Lemera

Lemera is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the northwestern part of the Uvira Territory, approximately 60 kilometers north of Bukavu and 90 kilometers southwest of the border with Rwanda and Burundi. Lemera is in close proximity to several villages, including Kasheke, Nyambasha, Luzira, Lukayo, Kajuju, Lushasha, and Ihusi.

Lemera has a population of approximately 114, 464 people and is primarily an agricultural town, with many residents growing crops such as cassava, beans, and maize. The town also has a small fishing industry, with fishermen catching tilapia and other fish from the waters of Lake Tanganyika.

History
Prior to the establishment of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom as a political entity in 1928, Lemera functioned as the capital of the Bahamba Dynasty of Bafuliiru. This dynasty originated from Lwindi (presently recognized as Luindi Chiefdom in the Mwenga Territory) during the 17th century and subsequently undertook a migration to the contemporary Uvira Territory.

Lemera derived its nomenclature from Mulemera, the progenitor of Kahamba and the founding figure of the Bafuliiru Dynasty in Lemera. During the Belgian Congo period, the region exhibited a sparse population, prompting the colonists to institute the "Chefferie des Bafulero" with the objective of organizing each distinct ethnic faction into well-defined geographical entities.

Villages
Lemera groupement is administratively subdivided into villages:


 * Kiringye
 * Kidote
 * Langala
 * Bwesho
 * Mahungu or Mahungubwe
 * Narunanga
 * Namutiri
 * Lungutu
 * Kahanda
 * Kigurwe
 * Ndunda

Security problems
Lemera has a long history of conflict and political instability, which has led to ongoing security concerns for its residents and visitors alike. The region has experienced various periods of violence and unrest, with armed groups and militia factions operating in the area and contributing to a general sense of insecurity.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Congo Wars ravaged the region, and the Lemera Hospital, located approximately 85 kilometers north of Uvira, stood as the largest hospital in the region. Operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the medical facility served as a military hospital during the First Congo War, providing treatment to injured soldiers and civilians from all over the region. The hospital was renowned for its skilled medical staff and the provision of top-notch medical care. During the Lemera massacre, which marked the beginning of the First Congo War on October 6, 1996, the Banyamulenge armed groups, supported by Rwanda and Uganda, attacked the town, resulting in the loss of several dozen victims. 37 people were killed in the Lemera Hospital, including two members of the medical staff. The armed elements also vandalized the hospital, leaving in their wake a trail of destruction and devastation.

Overview
On April 29, 2021, the Ngumino, an armed group composed of members of the Banyamulenge community, stole 75 cows from Kanono village in the highlands of the Bafuliiru chieftaincy, located 44 km northwest of Lemera, in the Uvira Territory.

In May 2021, the Twigwaneho (a Banyamulenge rebel group) and their allies led by an army deserter Colonel Michel Rukunda alias Makanika attacked the camp of Mai-Mai Biloze Bishambuke fighters in Masango, in the Bijombo grouping (groupement), Bavira Chiefdom. Meanwhile, northeast of Lemera, clashes between Ngumino militiamen and the Mai-Mai coalition and Burundian FNL left seven people dead. These fights took place in the village Kifuni, northeast of the capital of the chiefdom of Bafuliiru.

In early 2022, the re-emergence of the March 23 Movement, which occupies several localities in the east of the country, created tensions in Lemera. Defeated in 2013, the March 23 Movement, whose fighters had taken refuge in Uganda and Rwanda, resumed military activities in 2022, causing civilians to flee to Lemera from other afflicted regions. According to the coordinator of ACMEJ/Katogota, Eric Muvomo, nearly one hundred new cases of displaced children have been received by another NGO “Espace d'amis d'enfance” (EAE) in Kidote, in the middle plateaux of Lemera.

Economy
Agriculture and animal husbandry are the two main activities of Lemera. The agriculture sector is an important component of the regional economy. The main food crops grown include cassava (nearly 25% of national production), yams, maize, groundnuts, oil palm, okra (dongo -dongo), zucchini, eggplant, pepper, tomato, cucumber, roselle (Guinea sorrel) and soybeans whose introduction is quite recent.