Igongo Cultural Centre
Igongo Cultural Centre: Igongo cultural center is located in Biharwe, 15 km before you reach Mbarara city in western Uganda, on the Masaka- Mbarara highway. The Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara in southwest Uganda was founded to study, document, conserve and promote the cultural and natural heritage of the region. Igongo cultural center was commissioned by Uganda’s president Museveni as a major cultural tourism site in Uganda and it was opened to the public in 2011. The center was established to attract people from Uganda and around the world. The center is a liked place for the student researchers, school students, cultural photographers, cultural tourism enthusiasts and people looking for a get way. Igongo Cultural Centre is the best cultural tourism destination featuring the widespread Eriijukiro Museum, the Eitaramiro Cultural Village, the iconic Biharwe Eclipse Monument, Nkwanzi craft and book shop, and traditional cuisine restaurants. It is a key stopover for exploring Ankole heritage.
During the Bunyoro occupation of Nkore by King Olimi Rwitamahanga in 1520 is a period which the kingdom lost most of its cattle, and the people experienced great famine, a great battle was fought at Biharwe. In the middle of the battle, an eclipse of the sun took place forcing the Intruders into to flee immediate leaving behind all the cattle. The “Eclipse of Biharwe” is acknowledged internationally and is used to calculate periods in which the different kings of the Great Lakes region reigned. Ntare 1 Nyabugarobwera was the heroic king of the Ankole kingdom at the time. Legends and available records say that during his rule, it rained heavily which led to heavy floods that killed people, and destroyed their cattle and crops. The King was forced to call for spiritualists who slaughtered a spotlessly white cow on top of a hill called IGONGO in today’s Rwenjeru near his palace in Biharwe. The spiritualists performed rituals of reverence and begged the gods until the water was exuded to form a water body that is currently known as Lake Mbuuro
Igongo has the largest museum in Western Uganda called ‘Eriijukiro’ and combines this experience with a crafts shop where you will find a wide collection of local artefacts from all around greater Ankole. At Igongo, you get to learn more about the 1520 AD Biharwe Eclipse monument that is situated at the top of the hill directly across from the hotel. The museum was built to Honor a victory for the Ankole kingdom 500 years ago, following an eclipse that saw the attacking king evacuate in fear and never to return
Key Attractions at Igongo Cultural Center
Eriijukiro Museum (The Museum of Southwest Uganda)
This is the largest museum in the region, showcasing artifacts from the Ankole, Kigezi, and other neighbouring communities. Displays include traditional tools, pottery, hides and skins, and regalia from the Ankole Kingdom, including items showcasing the significance of the long-horned Ankole cattle.
Eitaramiro Cultural Village:
A walk-through an imitation of traditional Bahima and Bairu homesteads, providing a tangible experience of the region’s traditional housing, architecture, and lifestyle.
Biharwe Eclipse Monument:
Situated on a nearby hill across from the center, this monument was built to commemorate the total solar eclipse that occurred in the 16th century, 1520 AD, an important, historical event in the history of the Ankole, Bunyoro, and Buganda kingdoms. It is the only scientifically dated historical event from the early pre-colonial period in the Great Lakes region, serving as a vital chronological anchor for reconstructing the genealogies of local kings
Nkwanzi Crafts & Book Shop:
A shop where visitors can purchase souvenirs such as local jewelry, bags, traditional clothing, and literature documenting the history of the Ankole and Kigezi regions.
Mpororo Court (Kitami Palace):
A dedicated section showcasing the history of the 18th-century Mpororo kingdom, featuring statues and royal items. The Mpororo Court, widely known as the Kitami Palace, is a reconstructed royal residence exhibit located at the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara, Uganda. It serves as a tribute to Queen Kitami kya Nyawera, a powerful and influential 18th-century female ruler of the Mpororo Kingdom.
Traditional Dining & Gardens:
The restaurant serves local delicacies, including steamed matooke and smoked Ankole cow milk. The centre also features well-maintained gardens for relaxation.
The Biharwe Eclipse Monument
The Biharwe Eclipse Monument is a protruding cultural and historic landmark located on Biharwe Hill in Mbarara, southwestern part of Uganda. It was erected on 30th August 2014, it commemorates the total solar eclipse of April 17, 1520 AD, a fundamental event that forced kings to abandon their cattle, leading to the rebirth of the Ankole kingdom.
On 30th August 2014 president Yoweri kaguta Museveni the president of the republic of Uganda presided over the official inauguration of the Biharwe eclipse monument at igongo cultural center in Mbarara district.
The three pillars of this monument represent the three kings who were contemporaries at the time and these were Nakibinge of Buganda, Olimi 1 Rwitamahanga of Bunyoro and Ntare 1 Nyabugarobwera of Nkole.
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