Location within the country: Uganda Ruwenzori Region, Bundibugyo District and eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Geography and Climate: The region of the Amba is characterized by a spread sheet of loam-clay soil and beautifully scattered hills and valleys with ever green vegetations lying in the Eastern Rift Valley over 1800 metres above sea level and about1300 metres above sea level in some valleys. Both on the hills and valleys there natural trees that help to serve as fuel, timber, poles and rafters for constructions of houses with plenty of elephant grass/reeds. There are many streams flowing from the Ruwenzori Mountains as their source that supply people with fresh drinking water emptying into Semuliki River. There is a natural forest Semuliki Game Reserve with some wild game which includes elephants, buffalos, chimpanzees, monkeys, warthogs etc and plenty of birds of all kinds. There is only one mar rum road that runs from Fort Portal meandering through Mount Ruwenzori to the DRC. There is plenty rain fall throughout the whole year. October being the rainiest month that causes blockage of roads due to land slides. Adequate sun shines good friendly climate clear morning at sun rise giving chance to view snow on the mountain peaks. The soil is very fertile allowing all sorts of crops to grow without applying any sort of artificial method of crop maintenance like irrigation and others.
Altitude: About
Population: 45,000
Cultural information: the Amba are mainly engaged in farming with cassava, rice, pumpkins, bananas, sweet potatoes and yams as their principal food crops. Beans, soya, ground nuts and dodo as major sauces. Fish is got from fresh streams and much of fish is bought from the markets that are within the district. Most of the fish is from Lake Albert and Semuliki River. The farming seasons correspond to the type of crops to be cultivated; nevertheless, most of the people get engaged in preparation of land with effect of the month of January. The Amba have some cash crops as; cocoa, coffee and vanilla. At least every homestead has one or two cash crops as source of income.
They also rear some animals; goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats and some foul; chicken and ducks. In the past goats and sheep were the main assets for bride prices.
Amba homes located up country are constructed with wattle mud grass satchel or tin roofed. The homes are surrounded by gardens either food crops, cash crops or both with a number of families living together. They practice communal work rotating working in groups and in turns. Each home has at least a house in which to live in and a separate kitchen and animal habitat. The Amba are a social community quite hospitable to any whether relatives or non relatives/strangers. The call themselves Bhamba and prefer calling their language Kwamba. The Amba practice circumcision to their male ones and it is attributed to be a symbol of courageous, bravery, purity, manhood and maturity.
There are Government Aided Primary Schools constructed in the areas and at least a Secondary School in every Sub-County especially in Bundibugyo Uganda unlike in the DRC. There are also Health Centres for easy accessibility with other infrastructure facilities. All Government Aided Institutions have qualified personnel with government grants.
Diet: Cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, rice and yams.
Economic Status: At least every home has a cash crop as an economic base. On the average one's income is about $ 2,500 per captor with reliable harvest.
Alternate language names: Kwamba, Lwamba, Lubulabule, Kihumu.
Language group information: There are approximately 72 villages that are occupied by Kwamba speakers. In their language the Amba people call themselves Bamba and their language Kwamba. They are known throughout the country and in the DRC; however, they are called Bhahumu and their language Kihumu. They also refer themselves as Bhamba Ti̱nene.
Together with the Bhahumu of Congo Kwamba represent the Bantu Board land as compared to Mvuba (Kumbubha, Luhuku) which is Sudanic classification.
Religion: Christians, Muslims.
History: Christianity began as early as 1912. The widely embraced churches are the Church of Uganda and Roman Catholic. Other churches include; Pentecostal, Charismatic Episcopal, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, etc.
The Bamba are believed to have originated from the great Sudanic Immigration southwards through Bunyoro Kitara the present Bunyoro Kingdom, through Toro Kingdom over Ruwenzori Mountain to the contemporary Bundibugyo, Bwamba County; and the present Groupment Bhahumu of the DRC, with the Head quarter at Mulopya.