Mwenga Territory

Mwenga Territory is a territory in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Established on 15 August 1949 during the Belgian colonial period, it was formed through the partition of Shabunda Territory, subdivisions of Kabare Territory, and a portion of Fizi Territory. The territory covers an area of 11,172 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 843,636 in 2019. It is bounded to the north by Walungu Territory, following the course of the Ulindi River and its confluence with Kadubo within Luhwindja Chiefdom. To the south, it shares boundaries with Fizi Territory along the limits of the Itombwe sector. On the eastern side, Mwenga Territory meets Uvira Territory near the highlands of Lake Lungwe and the upper Elila River, while to the west it borders Shabunda Territory.
The territory's economy is primarily based on subsistence agriculture, small livestock rearing, and artisanal gold mining. Administratively, Mwenga Territory is subdivided into five chiefdoms and one sector. Its population is ethnically diverse, including Lega, Nyindu, Bembe, Fuliiru, Vira, Shi, and Banyamulenge. Languages commonly spoken are Kilega, Shi, Swahili, Kinyindu, and Kibembe, while the major religions practiced include Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and Kimbanguism.

Geography

Terrain and climate

Mwenga Territory ranges in elevation from 620 meters at its lowest point in Wamuzimu Chiefdom to 2,602 meters at Miki in the Itombwe Sector. The territory contains four distinct climatic zones: a humid tropical climate in Lwindi, Basile, and parts of Wamuzimu; a hot climate in southern Wamuzimu around Kitutu; a temperate climate in the savannas of Itombwe; and colder conditions in Burhinyi, Luhwinja, and portions of Itombwe. Two main seasons dominate the year, a rainy season from mid-September to mid-May, punctuated by a brief dry spell between February and May lasting 7 to 15 days, and a dry season extending from June to August. Average temperatures throughout the year vary between 18°C and 25°C.
Mwenga Territory is crossed by two major tributaries of the Congo River, namely the Ulindi River in Lwindi Chiefdom and the Elila River in Wamuzimu Chiefdom. These rivers irrigate fertile valleys and are fed by numerous tributaries, among them Bilahile, Lulumunyu, Mamunguzi, Kakanga, Tulambo, Zalya, Lusia, Mwana, Kabilombo, Kilungutwe, Kibe, Lubalya, and Zizi.
Regarding the main inland watercourses:

Basile Chiefdom	Burhinyi Chiefdom	Itombwe Sector
Bilalhe River	Kadubo River	Kakanga River
Lulumunyu River	Muduve River	Tulambo River
Mamunguzi River		Makaina River
Kenya River		Tumungu River
Zombe River		Kilimbwe River
Luelola River		Elila River
Kalambo River		Ulindi River
Zalya River
Lusia River

Source: Annual report of the Territorial Administration, 1995.
The vegetation of the territory is dominated by savanna, particularly in Burhinyi and Luhwinja, though patches of forest are found in the Itombwe sector, within which lies the Itombwe Nature Reserve. Dense forests extend over parts of Itombwe, Lwindi, Basile, and Wamuzimu.
The soils are generally fertile, with the notable exception of the more arid soils of Luhwinja. Three principal soil types can be distinguished. Sandy-clay soils, which are loose, well-aerated, and rich in humus, dominate Wamuzimu Chiefdom. Sandy-argillaceous soils, characterized by their compact structure and mineral richness, are commonly found along rivers and in areas such as Kamituga, Mozozo, and Kitutu. Clay-lime soils, compact and elastic in texture, are less widespread but occur in Kamituga and in other parts of the territory.

Administration and governance

Mwenga Territory is divided into five chiefdoms—Basile, Luhwindja, Burhinyi, Lwindi, and Wamuzimu—and one sector, Itombwe. These subdivisions are further organized into groupements and localités. Each chiefdom and the sector is headed by a traditional chief, who presides over customary authority, manages succession practices, and safeguards local traditions. Although the customary chiefs collaborate with the Territorial Administrator, they maintain a degree of autonomy in their internal governance.
At the intermediate level, each groupement is headed by a chef de groupement, typically drawn from the royal lineage. Their official recognition is conferred by order of the Minister of the Interior and Security, Decentralization, and Customary Affairs, and their installation is conducted by the Territorial Administrator or Mayor in the presence of the chiefdom's or sector's mwami. At the local level, village chiefs handle administrative responsibilities such as population censuses, public health oversight, and civil registration, including declarations of births, deaths, and marriages. They are recognized by decision of the Territorial Administrator and installed by the chef de groupement in the presence of the mwami. In incorporated groupements, however, the authority of recognition lies with the Mayor. Village chiefs operate under the administrative authority of their respective chef de groupement.

Chiefdoms and sector	Area	Headquarters	Groupements
1. Basile	2,113 km²	Mwenga	Bawanda Babulinzi Balobola Bamunda Basilubanda I Basilubanda II Basimwenda Basitonga Batumba Bazalugulu
2. Luhwindja	183 km²	Lubanda	Bujiri Bwihembo Chibanda II Kababide Karhundu Idudwe Luchiga Lufaha Mulama
3. Burhinyi	328 km²	Birhala	Birhala Budaka Bugobe Buhogo Cheshero Chibindye Chirere Chizuka Chiriri Karhendezi Itudu Kitwabaluz Mulambi Mulanga Luhuku Ntondo Nyirindja Kalambo
4. Lwindi	856 km²	Kasika	Ihanga Ilowe Kalambi Katarama Kigogo Kilimbwe Kiomvu Mukangala
5. Itombwe	3,580 km²	Miki	Basikamakulu Basimukindje I Basimukindje II Basimukuma Basimwenda Basimunyaka
6. Wamuzimu	4,112 km²	Kitutu	Babongolo Bagezi Bangunga Bakute Balighi Balinzi Bamulinda Banamukika Banakyungu Banampute Basibugembe Basikasa Basikamakulu Basikumbilwa Basimbi Basimwenda Basitabale Buse Bawandeme Bazyala B Leproserie

Source: Annual Report.

History

Mwenga Territory has historically been home to a culturally diverse population made up of Bantu and Pygmy ethnic groups. Among the dominant Bantu groups are the Lega people, a forest-dwelling group who trace their origins to migratory movements from northern regions of the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, following the course of the Congo River. As they moved, the Lega came into contact with Pygmy groups of the equatorial forest, leading to their settlement in areas such as Shabunda Territory and Kindu. Their gradual migration southward, particularly along the Elila and Ulindi Rivers, encouraged additional expansion and integration. The Lega also intermarried and mingled with other ethnic groups, including the Shi, Bembe, and Nyindu, which led to the emergence of new clans such as the Batumba and Bashimwenda.
Traditionally, the Lega subsisted through a combination of hunting, gathering, fishing, fish farming, agriculture, and livestock rearing, with trade conducted largely via barter systems. Social customs were characterized by elaborate marital rites, beginning with family blessing ceremonies, followed by the Mwembu and Alonjo rituals, which respectively marked the birth of the first and second children. The Lega also practiced a dual-structured traditional belief system: Kimbilikiti, a spiritual tradition for men, and Iyano, a system of initiation for women and adolescent girls entering adulthood. Enforcement of moral and social norms was the responsibility of secret societies such as Muzombo and Abi, which were tasked with upholding taboos and administering sanctions to transgressors.
Administratively, Mwenga Territory was formally created by Ordinance No. 62/142 of 15 August 1949 of the Governor General of the Belgian Congo through the division of Shabunda Territory and the subdivision of Kabare Territory, along with part of Fizi Territory.

Demographics

Population

According to the 2003 census, Mwenga Territory had a population of 317,423 inhabitants. The population was generally characterized by low incomes, limited education, and poor access to healthcare, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Around 60 percent of women were illiterate. By 2019, the population was estimated to have increased to 843,636.
The territory is home to several ethnic groups, with the Lega constituting the majority and inhabiting the Wamuzimu and Basile Chiefdoms. The Nyindu reside primarily in Lwindi Chiefdom, while the Shi dominate Burhinyi and Luhwinja Chiefdoms. In the Itombwe Sector, the Bembe form the majority, though they coexist with the Fuliiru, Nyindu, Vira, and a minority population of Lega. The Banyamulenge also reside in this sector. The main language is Swahili, which serves as the dominant lingua franca across the territory and is used in all spheres of life, including education, administration, and commerce. Kilega is spoken in Wamuzimu and Basile Chiefdoms by the Lega, Mashi is spoken in Burhinyi and Luhwinja by the Shi, and Kinyindu is spoken in Lwindi by the Nyindu. In Itombwe, Kibembe is spoken by the Bembe, while Kinyarwanda is spoken by the Banyamulenge.