Gitega
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Gitega (Template:IPA), formerly Kitega, is the political capital of Burundi. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau<ref name=britannica>Template:Cite web</ref> roughly Template:Convert east of Bujumbura, the largest city and former political capital, Gitega is the country's fourth largest city<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and former royal capital of the Kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966.Template:Efn<ref name="gitegaafp">Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2018, then Burundian president, the late Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status,<ref name=gitegaafp /> with Bujumbura remaining as economic capital and centre of commerce.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years.<ref name=bbcnews>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Update inline
Geography
Gitega is the capital of Gitega Province, one of the eighteen provinces of Burundi. It is located in the center of the country, at roughly the same distance between the commercial capital, Bujumbura on Lake Tanganyika to the west, the Tanzanian border to the east—both at around Template:Convert—and the Rwandan border, about Template:Convert to the north. It lies on a broad plateau surrounded by hills, a few kilometres southwest of the confluence of the Ruvyironza and Rurubu Rivers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Ruvubu National Park, the country's biggest, lies Template:Convert to the east.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
History
Gitega was at one time the seat of the Kingdom of Burundi and remained as capital of the kings of Burundi (mwami) until 1966.Template:Citation needed
The Germans laid out the plan for the modern town of Gitega in 1912 when Burundi was part of German East Africa.<ref>Françoise Le Guennec-Coppens, Pat Caplan, Les Swahili entre Afrique et Arabie, KARTHALA Editions, France, 1991, p. 174</ref>
In March 2007, President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza announced that Burundi was planning to bring back its capital city to Gitega, saying that it is in a better location for a capital than Bujumbura.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
On 24 December 2018, it was announced by Nkurunziza that Gitega was to become the capital city of Burundi, pending only Parliament approval.<ref name=gitegaafp /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The expected parliamentary assent (given the President's CNDD-FFD party comfortable majority in both chambers) arrived through a vote on 16 January 2019, with some ministries already starting the move two days later.<ref name=bbcnews />
On 7 December 2021, a fire broke out in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>
Education
The Polytechnic University of Gitega was founded in 2014.<ref>DAM, "Burundi: Début des cours à l’Université Polytechnique de Gitega en février", burundi-agnews.org, Burundi, January 9, 2014.</ref>
Culture
It is the home of Burundi's National Museum of Gitega. Several karyenda royal drum sanctuaries are located in the area, as well as the ibwami (royal court). On 29 April 1972, Ntare V of Burundi, the country's last Mwami (King), was killed in Gitega.Template:Citation needed
Places of worship
Places of worship in Gitega are predominantly Christian churches and cathedrals, including: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gitega (Catholic Church), Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi (Anglican Communion), Union of Baptist Churches in Burundi (Baptist World Alliance), and Assemblies of God.<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, "Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices", ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p.456.</ref> There are also Muslim mosques.Template:Citation needed
Transportation
Gitega was served by Gitega Airport, which is now defunct.Template:When Gitega is served by four National Roads (Routes Nationales, RN): RN2 connects it with Bujumbura through the northwest, via Muramvya and Bujumbura Rural provinces. RN15 leads to the north of country, towards Ngozi and continuing on to Rwanda, while passing through the ancient royal court of Gishora; RN12, which separates from RN15 on the outskirts of Gitega, heads northeast to serve the provinces of Karuzi and Muyinga. The last is RN3, which heads towards the southwest towards Rumonge and Lake Tanganyika.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
External links
Template:List of African capitals Template:Authority control