Ankole formerly belonged to the Chwezi.  When the Chwezi fled further south, Ruhinda, a son of Wamara, who belonged to Hinda dynasty consolidated his father's gains into the kingdom of Ankole. The movement of the Bachwezi left a vacuum in east Ankole. The new Hinda dynasty moved to Isingiro that became the centre of the kingdom.  Ankole was first a weak kingdom.

At the beginning of the 18^th century, Omukama Cwamali of Bunyoro invaded Ankole but he was killed on retreat when he had gone to invade Rwanda, by Ntare IV. Ntare IV extended borders of Ankole to include the areas to River Katonga, counties of Shema and Rwampara were incorporated into the kingdom from Mpororo.

In mid-18^th century, Omukama Rwebishengye seized the pastureland of Kabula from Bunyoro.  Omugabe Mutambuka conquered Igara and Buhweju in the 19^th century. He also raided Toro, Busongora and Karagwe.

Ntare V descended the throne in 1875 when foreign imperialism had "knocked on the doors" of modern Uganda.

Reasons for the growth of Ankole kingdom       

Nkole started as a small kingdom made up of only Rwampara in the 15th century.

Population increase led to the growth of Ankole kingdom.

The coming of the Omugabe Ntare IV at the end of the 18th century who started serious expansion programmes and extended its border up River Katonga.

The annexation of Kabula in the north that previously belonged to Bunyoro.

The coming of Omugabe Rwabishengye who loved expansion and also annexed more parts and the pasture lands of Kabula.  

The raids of omugabe Mutambuka in Toro, Kooki, Busongora and Karagwe also led to the growth and expansion of the empire.

The role of omugabe Mutambuka in conquering Igara and Buhweju in the north expanded the           empire.

The 1901 Ankole Agreement signed between Nuwa Mbaguta (the Chief Minister) and the British that forced the small independent states to acknowledge the power of Omugabe led to the growth of the empire.

It participated in Trade which brought profit and guns for expansion.

Plenty of food led to the growth of Ankole.                                

It was located, in an area of fertile soil and occasional rainfall.

It was surrounded by weak tribes, which were easily defeated and annexed.  

Unity of the people enhanced growth and expansion.

The migration of the Chwezi into the kingdom led to its growth.            -

Ankole was small and intact in size hence easy to administer and develop.

Political organisation of Ankole

Politically Ankole had a centralised administration with the Omugabe (king) as its political head.

The Omugabe was the head of the kingdom.  His decisions were final.  However, he had to show his ability to rule.

The king could be assisted by a chain of chiefs.    The king had hereditary and absolute powers and his decisions would be final.

He also had all the powers to appoint and even dismiss any of his chiefs at his will.

He was the final arbiter in all-legal disputes.

The Omugabe, Queen mother, princes and princesses formed the royal family that resided in the palace (Royal kraal).

The second in command to Omugabe was the Nganzi or Prime minister.

The prime minister was the most important chief who could at times perform the duties of the king.

The Omugabe and Nganzi came from the upper class of the Hima.

It's the king and the Nganzi who had the largest herds of cattle and estates where the Bairu or Iru or peasants always worked.

Ankole was divided into sixteen districts for easy administration e.g. Kashari, Nyabusozi, Mbarara, Ibanda, Bunyaruguru, Rwampara, Buhweju, Igara, Sheema, Kajara etc.

Each of the above districts was under an appointed chief called Mukungu who could be assisted by lesser chiefs (Abakungu).

The major responsibilities of the Abakungu (chiefs) were to keep peace and sending beer and millet to the Omugabe's court or Royal kraal.

Every year those who owned herds would send one or two animals to the royal kraal.

Ankole had royal regalia that included the royal drum called Bagyendanwa.

They also kept a place of a special fire that was not allowed to go out until the reigning Omugabe died.        

Ankole had no standing army but in case of war all able-bodied men were supposed to gather at the Omugabe's palace with spears, bows, arrows and shields.

The Banyankole had no culture of fighting they only fought cattle and chicken thieves

Economic organisation

The people in Ankole were divided into two classes: cattle-owning class (Bahima) and cultivators (Bairu).

The Bahima and Bairu complemented their activities. 

The Bahima supplied milk, meat, hides and produce; and the Bairu provided grain, yams, and iron goods.  When land got exhausted of its pasture, and to prevent cattle diseases, the chiefs who usually owned vast herds of cattle moved.  Peasants moved with them as well.

The main crop was millet, but there were also legumes.  Peasants also had other economic activities such as pottery, carpentry and blacksmiths. 

Of the above, carpenters were thought to belong to a better class. 

They made wooden pots, stools and dishes.  Blacksmiths made hoe blades and knives. Cattle was a sign of prestige and a means of rewarding good followers by the Omugabe.

Ankole people also participated in local trade with the neighbouring states like Buganda.

One also exchanged goods with the coastal Arabs and the Swahili in the interior.

They exchanges iron implements, hides and skins for guns, cloth and other luxurious items.

Generally the economic base of Ankole largely depended on pastoralism and agriculture.

Social Organisation

There was a royal drum "Bagyendanwa" respected by every Munyankole.  A special fire was kept alive at the palace until the Omugabe died. 

Ruhanga was believed to be the creator but no prayers were offered to him.  There were lesser gods such as Kagoro, Kazoba, Mugara, Wamara and Omusisi.

Offerings were made to these gods.  Spirits helped or punished relatives.  There were family shrines at which milk, beer, grain were offered to the spirits.

Ankole society had two separate social classes that is the Bahima and the Bairu.

The Bahima were pastoralists and were also the ruling class.  It is this class that was the most privileged. The Omugabe came from this class.

The Bairu were agriculturalists and they provided the kingdom with food crops like millet, sorghum, matooke and yams among others.

They were also black smiths and good smelters; in fact the Bairu ensured a steady food supply for the kingdom.

The Bahima provided fighting forces in case of war.  To the Bahima, cattle was the most valuable item to the extent that the man's status was based on the number of cattle owned.

Decline of Ankole kingdom

The Ankole kingdom began to decline in 1875 when Ntare V descended the throne.

It declined because of epidemics of rinderpest, jiggers, tetanus, and small pox, which affected human beings and their cattle. 

Prolonged drought is also responsible for the decline of the Nkole kingdom.

There were attacks from the ruler in Rwanda, Mwami Rwabugiri also contributed to its decline.

Furthermore, it could not survive European imperialism.

The coming of the British led to the decline of Nkole kingdom.

Lack of a strong leader led to the decline of the Ankole kingdom.  

The kingdom had grown bigger in size hence difficult to administer.