Nyakagyera Cave: Kabale’s historical site

Nyakagyera, the stone cave in Kabale, holds the history of the battles between Bakiga and the neighbouring tribes.

The battle for the stony land
In the fight for the land, Bahima would graze their cows in Bakiga’s gardens. Then, the Batwa would hunt down the Bahima’s cows. Bahima took refuge in places like Rujumbura in Rukungiri and Mburara (Mbarara) where they later settled. Bakiga remained in Kabale.

History has it that all the wars took place in places between Muko and current day Kigezi College Butobere, where the last bunch of the Bahima lived after they were chased from parts of current day Rugarama and Makanga Hill.

The victory of Bakiga clans over other tribes in Kabale is very significant as they were the most fought tribe. But because their invaders came from the south (mainly Rwanda), they succeeded. They would climb up, to the top of Kabaraga hills above Nyakagyera Cave and throw stones downwards to the invading army. Those who would not be killed would be captured and initiated into Kikiga culture. This happened until the invasion of Kahaya Rutindangyezi from Nkore in the 1600s that ruled part of the central Kigezi areas between current day Rwentobo and Bukinda but could not cross the hills of Kabaraga to the other part of Kabale.

However, friendly tribes like the Bazigaba came from Rwanda and settled with the resistant Bakiga. When White men (Belgians, Germans and the British) came to the land, they called the area Kabale. This was because the inhabitants fought using stones, hid in the stone caves and the giant stones at Makanga Hill where Whites established their administration offices.

Patrick Kanyankore, 45, a businessman from the area, has known the cave from childhood. “The cave was deeper when we were growing up. But due to erosion, soil has filled the base. If it can be beautified, it would look pretty. There is nothing being done to make it a tourist centre, maybe we may see it in future,” Kanyankore says.

Bright future
Emmanuel Muranga, a registrar at Kabale University, is setting up a hotel in the neighbourhood. This could in future open tourism opportunities at the cave.

More than 600 people live in the village which is one of the most populated in the sub-county. Julius Barusya, a traditionist, cultural investor and dramatist, who represents Kamuganguzi Sub-county at Kabale District council, says there is a need to rediscover history and promote cultural tourism in the area.

“We are only depending on Lake Bunyonyi for our tourism in the district. We asked to employ a tourism officer who would discover all these places, the district told us they cannot recruit. Our history is rich, our culture is richer, I think we are missing a lot in not formalising these places,” he says.

He argues that the investment in such virgin places can create revenue for the district and the residents in the neighbourhood.

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