The Ankore (Nkore before the colonial era) was a traditional Bantu Kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the 15th century until 1967. The kingdom was located in the southwestern of Uganda.
Ankole sub-region is a region in the Western Region of Uganda that consists of the following districts:
Buhweju District Bushenyi District Ibanda District Isingiro District Kazo District Kiruhura District Mbarara District Mbarara City Mitooma District Ntungamo District Rwampara District Rubirizi District Sheema District.
The area covered by the above districts constituted the traditional Ankole Kingdom. Milton Obote abolished the traditional kingdoms in Uganda in 1967. This was a bold political move that ended centuries of royal rule and centralized authority under his government. When Yoweri Museveni re-established them in 1993, Ankole did not re-constitute itself.
The sub-region is home mainly to the Ankole ethnic group. The people of Ankole are called Banyankole (singular: Munyankole). The Banyankole speak Runyankole, a Bantu language. Runyankole is very similar to Rukiga, spoken by the people of the neighboring Kigezi sub-region. According to the 2014 national census, the Ankole sub-region was home to an estimated 2.56 million people at that time.
Geography and environment The subregion lies in south-western Uganda within the Western Region administrative grouping used by UBOS.
Protected areas linked to districts in the subregion include:
Lake Mburo National Park (associated with Kiruhura District).
Queen Elizabeth National Park (associated with Rubirizi District).
Demographics In the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, Ankole sub-region recorded a population of 3,608,968.
Population structure (2024 census):
Male: 1,684,729 Female: 1,924,239
Age groups (2024 census):
0–14 years: 1,372,108 15–64 years: 2,084,082 65+ years: 152,778
UBOS subregional profile reporting for the 2024 census lists 842,783 households for Ankole sub-region.
District and city populations (2024 census):
Buhweju: 167,921 Bushenyi: 283,392 Ibanda: 309,466 Isingiro: 635,077 Kazo: 208,898 Kiruhura: 203,502 Mbarara District: 174,039 Mbarara City: 264,425 Mitooma: 226,009 Ntungamo: 552,786 Rubirizi: 168,211 Rwampara: 162,967 Sheema: 252,275
Economy Livestock and dairy value chains form a major part of local livelihoods in south-western Uganda, with Mbarara frequently referenced in dairy supply and handling studies.
Indigenous Ankole Longhorn cattle remain culturally significant and are documented by FAO as a hardy local breed valued by pastoral communities in the Ankole area.
Culture and languages Runyankore-Rukiga (ISO 639-3: nyn and cgg) is documented as a Bantu language cluster associated with south-western Uganda, including areas linked to Ankole.
Education Mbarara City hosts higher education institutions including Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The city also hosts Bishop Stuart University (see official admissions portal).
See also Regions of Uganda Districts of Uganda kigezi sub-region western region, Uganda Runyankore Banyankore Ankole
References
External links Uganda Bureau of Statistics | Ankole sub-region Red paper | Akole region UBOS: Ankole Sub-Region Census 2024 Profile Report (PDF) https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf UBOS: National Population and Housing Census 2024 Final Report, Volume 1 (PDF) https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/National-Population-and-Housing-Census-2024-Final-Report-Volume-1-Main.pdf