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By Jean Claude Manzi
Ibisi bya Huye begins tourism based on snakes and goats where they expect social and economic transformation to the people living around ibisi bya Huye through visiting this mountain and learn more about historical features that are located there.
Ibisi bya Huye is the tower of the Southern Province and was former capital city of Abenengwe dynasty. This mountain is known for the history related to the powerful woman called Nyagakecuru. This was the queen of Bungwe kingdom who lived on top of the mountain during the Rwanda kingdom re-conquering period by Ruganzu II Ndoli (1510-1543)
Nyagakecuru is known by having mysterious and gigantic snakes and steepness to her house proved an impossible trail for king Ruganzu II army to defeat her army.
The House of leader Nyagakecuru was protected by an army and huge snake and a lot shrubs. For King Ruganzandoli II army to defeat the Nyagakecuru and conquer this region of Bungwe and be part of Rwanda he tricked her by offering the goats. Then latter on they ate the shrubs of around her home which led the snake to flee and then Ruganzu Ndoli with his royal army known as Ibisumizi was able to gain easy access to Queen Nyagakecuru’s territory where he defeated her.
Through this story of Nyagakecuru of Bungwe region, Kajuga Jerome president of Huye mountain sport Ibisumizi and the chief of Gihomart and cultures company which established to conserve this history and features of the mountain Ibisi bya Huye says that in order to keep this unique history and make it known it is better to begin tourism based on goats and snakes.
Kajuga says “We have given almost 30 goats among the people living around the Ibisi bya Huye, Therefore everyone should have goat then when the goats become a lot they will be being produced in terms of milk production so that people can have milk production and sell them to milk collectors hence the people get money and be transformed to the development. This is the project that we have begun this year. For the snake there is cage we preparing to have and put in the snake so that people who can here and be excited due to the snake that they have seen”
Within this Ibisi bya Huye there is also a place called Kukabakobwa where young women and old women used to meet at this site together and learn how to make basket, mats and other utensils related to the culture of Rwanda. A part from doing those activities young women used to be taught how they will behave after being married in last years.
Today’s also there women who come and meet at this place to make baskets and other materials related to Rwandan culture. Nyiransengiyumva Irena, a woman who come from Mbazi sector says that it is very useful to come at this place because this is where they learn each other of making beautiful basket and get some money to help their families. Nyiransengiyumva says ’’It would be good and very crucial to us if they rebuild this place and make it an attractive site because what we do is about our culture but it can be also an usual job so as we make cooperative that would help our families to develop.
A part from this site Kukabakobwa there is also Well called Iriba rya Nyagakecuru where the water inside lasted for years even if it is dry season or rainy season around this site there is a camp site that would help visitors to have view others mountains around and they can even get fresh air if they reach at this Ibisi bya Huye.
