Origin

They belong to the Bantu speakers of the interlacutrine region. Originally Karagwe belonged to the pastoral Bachwezi empire of Bunyoro. But Karagwe is located between Burundi and Rwanda in the north west of Tanzania (Bukoba).

After the disintegration of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom, Karagwe emerged as an independent state formed by immigrants from Bunyoro Toro and Ankole.

Ruhinda is believed to be the founder of Karagwe kingdom with a capital at Isingiro.

Ruhinda is believed to have been a Chwezi who lived either in Ankole, Bunyoro or Toro before establishing Karagwe.

Ruhinda set up the Hinda dynasty after over throwing Mono the son of Malija.

Ruhinda also established small principalities in Gisaka, Kyamatwara, lhangiro Nasa, Busubi, and Ukerewe.

After the death of Ruhinda each of these principalities became independent.  

Social Organisation. This was based on clans and lineages.

Each clan inherited land and social values of the ancestors.

There were social classes that is the rulers were mainly the Bahinda and the peasants were the Banyombo.

Marriage was mainly polygamous. Many wives and cattle as a symbol of prestige.

People of the same clan were not supposed to marry each other,

They believed in life after death that is consulted departed ancestors and offered sacrifices in times of distress.

They put on clothes made of skins and Bark cloth.

Their staple food was millet and Milk.

They offered sacrifices to their ancestors and spirits.

They respected the clan chief as a religious leader,.

They had two classes, the pastoral Bahima and the Banyarnbo who were farmers.

They recognised royal regalia such as drums, spears and crowns.

Respect for the elders was greatly emphasised.                            

Marriage was followed by Bride wealth,

They also believed in medicine men and herbalists for protection and security. 

Political organisation.

Karagwe had a centralised political system that is all political power was centred at the leader. Its ruling family were the Hinda.

The Kingdom was a confederation of provinces and sub dynasties.

Each chiefdom or province was ruled by a chief. Clan courts handled criminal and civil cases

The chief ruled in accordance with the advice of clan heads and established customary values.

The chief had power over the land. He could give or take over the land from the land user.

The chief (lhanga) received tribute from Vassal states

The King was charged with the following responsibilities: Appointing officials to collect taxes, settling interclan disputes, appointing clan heads, organising defence against internal and external aggression.

Chieftaincy was hereditary i.e. King was supposed to replaced by the son after death of that king.

Age sets acted as the soldiers. The pastoral Bahima were rulers. The clan was the highest political unit.

Economic

Land was owned on clan basis that is each clan member had right to land

Cattle rearing was the main occupation. The cattle provided milk, meat, ghee, hides and skins. There was also an agricultural community-the Banyombo who grew cereals, coffee, pumpkins, yams legumes and vegetables.

Fishing from numerous rivers and lakes used to supplement their diet by providing fish. Hunting mainly for ivory, hides, honey and wax was also an important activity. Trade- involved in barter trade with neighbouring communities and long distance trading Nyamwezi people.

Exchanged ivory, iron, backcloth, for cloth, guns, beads and hardware.

 The contribution of Ruhinda in Karagwe

Ruhinda introduced the following changes in Karagwe:

He introduced a centralised administration, which replaced clan leadership.

He expanded Karagwe to Gisaka, Kyamatwara, Ihangiro, Busubi and Nasa.

 He empowered clan chiefs to collect taxes and tribute.      

He introduced clan courts to deal with civil and criminal cases.

He introduced the age set system whereby the society was divided according to age.

He trained boys as soldiers to expand and defend the Kingdom.

He introduced long-horned cattle in Karagwe that improved the economy of the kingdom.

He introduced new crops e.g. Yams, millet, and sorghum.

He introduced new religious beliefs e.g. worship of ancestors.

He introduced iron working in which iron implements e.g. hoes, spears etc were manufactured.

He introduced royal regalia e.g. palace drums, spears and crowns.

He promoted trade with other interlacustrine Kingdoms hence the development of his kingdom.

 

The decline of Karagwe

Karagwe declined because of the following reasons:

The empire was too large and difficult to manage so it couldn't be maintained intact.

After the death of Ruhinda weak leaders succeeded him.

Invasion from Bunyoro led to the fall of Karagwe.

The oppressive administration after the death of Ruhinda caused problems like rebellions.

Outbreak of epidemics such a small pox and sleeping sickness weakened the kingdom and  led to its collapse.

Presence of constant civil wars led to the collapse of Karagwe.       

Growing rivalry among different princes tore the Kingdom apart.

There was too much freedom given to the chiefs as a result they broke away after the death  of Ruhinda.

Other principalities e.g. Nasa, Busubi, Ihangiro complained of the heavy taxes (tribute) and therefore they broke away.

Karagwe had a weak economy, which couldn't sustain the size of the empire.