Gitega facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gitega
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   .jpg) .jpg) Top: Gitega skyline; Middle: Cathedral of Christ the King, Downtown Gitega; National Museum of Gitega, Kibimba School Memorial
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 Gitega
Location in Burundi
Gitega
Location in Africa
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| Country |  Burundi |
| Province | Gitega Province |
| Area | |
| • Capital city | 22 km2 (8 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 22 km2 (8 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 27 km2 (10 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,504 m (4,934 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Capital city | 135,467 |
| • Density | 5,454/km2 (14,130/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (Central Africa Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | (Not Observed) |
Gitega (pronounced gee-TEG-ah), also known as Kitega in the past, is the political capital of Burundi. It is located right in the middle of the country. Gitega is about 62 kilometers (38 miles) east of Bujumbura. Bujumbura is Burundi's largest city and used to be the capital.
Gitega is the fourth largest city in Burundi. It was once the royal capital of the Kingdom of Burundi until 1966. In 2018, Burundi's president, Pierre Nkurunziza, announced that Gitega would become the capital again. This change was made official by the Parliament of Burundi on January 16, 2019. Bujumbura remains the country's economic and business center.
Contents
Discovering Gitega's Location and Landscape
Gitega is the main city of Gitega Province. This is one of Burundi's eighteen provinces. The city sits in the center of the country. It is almost the same distance from Lake Tanganyika in the west and the Tanzanian border in the east. Both are about 62 kilometers (38 miles) away. The border with Rwanda is about 72 kilometers (45 miles) to the north.
Gitega is built on a wide, flat area called a plateau. This plateau is surrounded by hills. A few kilometers southwest of the city, two rivers, the Ruvyironza and Rurubu River, join together. Ruvubu National Park, which is Burundi's largest park, is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) east of Gitega.
Gitega's Weather: A Look at the Climate
Gitega has a tropical climate. This means it is generally warm all year round. The city experiences both wet and dry seasons. The wet season has more rainfall, while the dry season is much drier.
| Climate data for Gitega (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.2 (77.4) |
25.5 (77.9) |
23.3 (73.9) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.1 (80.8) |
26.4 (79.5) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.4 (77.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.8 (56.8) |
13.7 (56.7) |
13.8 (56.8) |
14.3 (57.7) |
13.6 (56.5) |
11.6 (52.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
11.6 (52.9) |
12.7 (54.9) |
13.4 (56.1) |
13.6 (56.5) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.0 (55.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 157.5 (6.20) |
146.6 (5.77) |
163.6 (6.44) |
169.2 (6.66) |
76.3 (3.00) |
5.6 (0.22) |
4.4 (0.17) |
9.2 (0.36) |
52.5 (2.07) |
100.4 (3.95) |
148.9 (5.86) |
145.2 (5.72) |
1,179.4 (46.42) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 23 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 23 | 24 | 176 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organization | |||||||||||||
Gitega's Past: A Journey Through History
Gitega was once the main city of the Kingdom of Burundi. It was where the kings of Burundi (called mwami) lived until 1966.
The Germans established the town of Gitega in 1912. At that time, Burundi was part of German East Africa.
In March 2007, President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza announced a plan. He said Burundi was thinking about moving its capital city back to Gitega. He believed Gitega was a better place for a capital than Bujumbura.
On December 24, 2018, President Nkurunziza confirmed that Gitega would become the capital. This decision needed approval from the Parliament. The Parliament voted on January 16, 2019, and approved the change. Some government offices started moving just two days later.
Learning in Gitega: Education Opportunities
Gitega is home to the Polytechnic University of Gitega. This university was started in 2014. It offers many different study programs.
Culture and Traditions in Gitega
Gitega is where you can find Burundi's National Museum of Gitega. This museum teaches visitors about the country's history and culture.
Around Gitega, there are also special places for the karyenda royal drums. These drums were very important to the kings of Burundi. The ibwami, which was the royal court, was also located here.
On April 29, 1972, Ntare V of Burundi, the last Mwami (King) of the country, passed away in Gitega.
Places of Worship in Gitega
Gitega has many Places of worship. Most of them are Christian churches and cathedrals. These include the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gitega (part of the Catholic Church) and churches from the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi (Anglican Communion). There are also churches belonging to the Union of Baptist Churches in Burundi (Baptist World Alliance) and Assemblies of God. In addition, there are Muslim mosques in the city.
Getting Around: Transportation in Gitega
Gitega used to have an airport called Gitega Airport, but it is no longer in use.
The city is connected by four main National Roads (called Routes Nationales, or RN).
- RN2 connects Gitega to Bujumbura. It goes through the northwest, passing through Muramvya and Bujumbura Rural provinces.
- RN15 goes north towards Ngozi and continues to Rwanda. It passes by the old royal court of Gishora.
- RN12 branches off from RN15 near Gitega. It heads northeast to serve the provinces of Karuzi and Muyinga.
- RN3 goes southwest towards Rumonge and Lake Tanganyika.
See also
In Spanish: Guitega para niños
