Editing Gitega

{{Short description|Capital of Burundi}}
{{Redirect|Capital of Burundi|the former capital until 2019|Bujumbura}}
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| official_name            = Gitega
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| native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
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| settlement_type          = [[Capital city]]
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  | photo2a                 = Diocèse Gitega y.jpg
  | photo2b                 = INSS Gitega n.jpg
  | photo3a                 = BU Gitega (1).jpg
  | photo3b                 = Kibimba School Memorial - Flickr - Dave Proffer (1).jpg
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| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Burundi
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| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Burundi|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Gitega Province]]
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<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isteebu.bi/index.php/publications/annuaires-statistiques |title=Institute de statistiques et d'etudes economiques du burundi, (Annuaires Statistiques 2016, p 23) |access-date=2019-03-28 |archive-date=2017-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911171821/http://www.isteebu.bi/index.php/publications/annuaires-statistiques |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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'''Gitega''' ({{IPA|fr|ɡiteɡa}}), formerly '''Kitega''', is the [[Capital city|political capital]] of [[Burundi]]. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau<ref name=britannica>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Gitega |title=Gitega (Burundi)|author=Encyclopedia Britannica|author-link=Encyclopedia Britannica|website=Encyclopedia Britannica Online|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> roughly {{convert|62|km|mi}} east of [[Bujumbura]], the largest city and former political capital, Gitega is the country's fourth largest city<ref>https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/burundi</ref> and former royal capital of the [[Kingdom of Burundi]] until its abolition in 1966.{{efn|From 1922 on, Usumbura (now Bujumbura) acted as a second, colonial, administrative and [[economic capital]] of the country; it effectively became its only political capital between the abolition of the monarchy in 1966 and January 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burundi to move political capital to Gitega |url=https://www.africanews.com/2018/12/22/burundi-to-move-political-capital-to-gitega/ |work=Africanews |date=22 December 2018 |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Moving capital city helps Burundi’s Nkurunziza avoid unrest, say critics |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20190118-moving-capital-city-helps-burundis-nkurunziza-avoid-unrest-say-critics |work=RFI – Radio France Internationale |date=18 January 2019 |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>}}<ref name="gitegaafp">{{cite web|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Burundi-names-Gitega-as-new-capital/4552908-4906718-ckc120/index.html|title=Burundi names Gitega as new capital|author=Agence France-Presse|date=22 December 2018|website=The EastAfrican|publisher=Nation Media Group|access-date=22 January 2018}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-24/burundi-moves-political-capital-from-bujumbura-to-gitega|title=Burundi Moves Political Capital From Bujumbura to Gitega|last=Nimubona |first=Désiré |date=24 December 2018|website=Bloomberg|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=22 January 2018}}</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>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/ce1qrvlel07t/burundi |title=Burundi to change its capital city |date=17 January 2019 |website=BBC World News |publisher=British Broadcasting Company |access-date=22 January 2019 |quote=The vote took place on Wednesday and the leader of parliament said the move would take place over three years.}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=December 2023}}

==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 [[Tanzania]]n border to the east—both at around {{convert|62|km|mi}}—and the [[Rwanda]]n border, about {{convert|72|km|mi}} to the north. It lies on a broad plateau surrounded by hills, a few kilometres southwest of the confluence of the [[Ruvyironza River|Ruvyironza]] and [[Rurubu River]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=R.H. |last2=Hughes |first2=J.S. |date=1992 |title=A Directory of African Wetlands |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature |page=97 |isbn=2-88032-949-3}}</ref> [[Ruvubu National Park]], the country's biggest, lies {{convert|26|km|mi}} to the east.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyticket.com/guide/712|title=Burundi：Country in the Heart of the African Great Lakes Region|date=26 June 2018|website=skyticket|access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location    = Gitega (1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 35.0
| Feb record high C = 35.4
| Mar record high C = 32.0
| Apr record high C = 31.3
| May record high C = 30.1
| Jun record high C = 30.8
| Jul record high C = 30.7
| Aug record high C = 31.7
| Sep record high C = 32.6
| Oct record high C = 32.9
| Nov record high C = 31.8
| Dec record high C = 33.8
| year record high C = 35.4
| Jan high C = 27.6
| Feb high C = 27.5
| Mar high C = 27.1
| Apr high C = 26.4
| May high C = 25.9
| Jun high C = 26.7
| Jul high C = 27.3
| Aug high C = 28.1
| Sep high C = 28.4
| Oct high C = 27.5
| Nov high C = 26.6
| Dec high C = 27.0
| year high C = 27.2
| Jan mean C = 21.9
| Feb mean C = 21.8
| Mar mean C = 21.6
| Apr mean C = 21.5
| May mean C = 21.1
| Jun mean C = 21.2
| Jul mean C = 21.3
| Aug mean C = 22.3
| Sep mean C = 22.4
| Oct mean C = 21.8
| Nov mean C = 21.3
| Dec mean C = 21.6
| year mean C = 21.6
| Jan low C = 16.1
| Feb low C = 16.0
| Mar low C = 16.1
| Apr low C = 16.5
| May low C = 16.4
| Jun low C = 15.7
| Jul low C = 15.3
| Aug low C = 16.4
| Sep low C = 16.4
| Oct low C = 16.2
| Nov low C = 15.9
| Dec low C = 16.1
| year low C = 16.1
| Jan record low C = 12.9
| Feb record low C = 12.9
| Mar record low C = 12.8
| Apr record low C = 14.0
| May record low C = 13.6
| Jun record low C = 11.6
| Jul record low C = 11.3
| Aug record low C = 12.5
| Sep record low C = 13.0
| Oct record low C = 12.9
| Nov record low C = 12.7
| Dec record low C = 13.1
| year record low C = 11.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 99.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 96.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 142.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 142.4
| May precipitation mm = 107.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 44.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 10.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 39.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 88.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 109.4
| Nov precipitation mm = 192.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 185.3
| year precipitation mm = 1258.8
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.3
| Feb precipitation days = 7.4
| Mar precipitation days = 12.5
| Apr precipitation days = 15.5
| May precipitation days = 11.1
| Jun precipitation days = 1.8
| Jul precipitation days = 0.6
| Aug precipitation days = 2.4
| Sep precipitation days = 6.9
| Oct precipitation days = 13.4
| Nov precipitation days = 17.3
| Dec precipitation days = 14.1
| year precipitation days = 110.1
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Rwanda/CSV/GITEGA.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Gitega
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 16, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==History==

Gitega was at one time the seat of the [[Kingdom of Burundi]] and remained as capital of the [[List of kings of Burundi|kings of Burundi]] (''mwami'') until 1966.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

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, [[List of Presidents of Burundi|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>{{Citation
 | title = Gitega Soon to Become the Capital of Burundi
 | newspaper = [[AllAfrica.com]]
 | date = 27 March 2007
 | url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200703270775.html
 | access-date =15 February 2010
}}</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>{{cite news|url=http://emirates-business.ae/burundis-political-capital-now-is-gitega/|title=Burundi's Political Capital now is Gitega|work=Emirates Business|date=24 December 2018}}</ref> The expected parliamentary assent (given the President's [[National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy|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, [[Gitega prison fire|a fire broke out]] in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2021-12-07|title=Burundi prison fire kills at least 38 in Gitega|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59560444|access-date=2021-12-07}}</ref>

== Education ==
The Polytechnic University of Gitega was founded in 2014.<ref>DAM, "[https://burundi-agnews.org/sports-and-games/burundi-debut-des-cours-a-luniversite-polytechnique-de-gitega-en-fevrier/ 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 [[sanctuary|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 ''[[King of Burundi|Mwami]]'' (King), was killed in Gitega.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

== Places of worship ==
[[Places of worship]] in Gitega are predominantly [[Christianity|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 [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

==Transportation==
Gitega was served by [[Gitega Airport]], which is now defunct.{{when|date=January 2022}} Gitega is served by four National Roads (''Routes Nationales'', RN): RN2 connects it with Bujumbura through the northwest, via [[Muramvya Province|Muramvya]] and [[Bujumbura Rural Province|Bujumbura Rural]] provinces. RN15 leads to the north of country, towards [[Ngozi, Burundi|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 Province|Karuzi]] and [[Muyinga Province|Muyinga]]. The last is RN3, which heads towards the southwest towards [[Rumonge]] and Lake Tanganyika.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/roadnumberingsystems/home/countries/burundi|title= Burundi|website=Road numbering systems |publisher=Google Sites |access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Burundi}}
*[[Commune of Gitega]]
*[[:Category:People from Gitega]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Chrétien |first1=Jean-Pierre |title=Gitega, capitale du Burundi : une ville du Far West en Afrique orientale allemande, 1912-1916 |date=2015 |publisher=Éditions Karthala |location=Paris |isbn=9782811115098}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gitega|position=left}}

{{List of African capitals}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gitega| ]]
[[Category:Gitega Province]]
[[Category:Populated places in Burundi]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in German East Africa]]