In addition, the Bafuliiru Chiefdom is surrounded by lush forests, including portions of the Itombwe Massif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[12] The easternmost part of the community is primarily characterized by expansive plains that encompass regions such as Luvungi, Lubarika, Katogota, Kiliba, Runingu, and Kawizi.

Within this plateau, notable villages include Namutiri, Ndolera, Bulaga, Langala, Bushokw, Bushuju, Butole, Bwesho, Katala and Mulenge.

The Ruzizi Plain is characterized by a semi-arid climate, with minimal rainfall during the dry season from June to September, where monthly precipitation is less than 50 mm.

[8] The low altitude of the plain contributes to high temperatures and limited rainfall, resulting in degraded shrub savanna vegetation and reduced soil fertility.

According to Alfred Moeller de Laddersous, the Bahamba migrated from present-day Lwindi Chiefdom under Chief Kikanwe and settled in the uninhabited area known as "Bufuliro".

[25][26] Other narratives describe a broader migration involving Fuliru and the Vira people from the northeast, potentially passing through Maniema before settling in Uvira Territory.

[27] Led by an ancestral figure named Nalwindi, the group split into two: the Bafuliru, under Kahamba Kalingishi, established themselves in the highlands of Lemera groupement, while the Vira, under Kirungu, settled on Munanira's peak and expanded into the lowlands.

[29] This independent political tradition persisted even as colonial authorities began delineating ethnic boundaries in 1907, which extended along Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi Plain, occasionally overlapping with Bavira territories.

[30] Over time, Bazige adopted Kifuliiru and merged into Bafuliru society through intermarriage and economic exchanges, ultimately recognizing Mukogabwe as their mwami.

[31][32][33][34][35][36] Fuliru historian Kingwengwe Mupe notes that Chief Matakambo, the son of Mahina Mukogabwe and grandson of Nyamugira I—the first Bahamba leader—received his official appointment on 19 March 1933.

The Balemera clan, believed to be the region's original inhabitants, had strong ancestral ties to the area, with their stronghold in Lemera groupement—a location regarded as the heartland of their domain.

These conflicts turned the area into a major battleground for various armed groups, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and immense suffering for the local population.

[47] On 6 October 1996, a massacre occurred at Lemera Hospital, where the AFDL and a Banyamulenge-led force killed 37 people, among them Hutu refugees, Zairean soldiers, and Fuliiru civilians.

In Katala village, located in the middle plateau of Bafuliiru Chiefdom, they captured and killed refugees who were attempting to flee at close range.

[48] Parenthetically, the units also killed an unknown number of Hutu refugees and Zairean civilians who were fleeing towards Burundi in Rubenga village in Uvira Territory.

[57][51][58][59] Subsistence agriculture is the chiefdom's primary economic activity, with the surrounding fertile lands supporting the cultivation of a variety of crops such as cassava, beans, peanuts, coffee, banana, rice, and maize.

According to Bafuliiru folklore, cassava was introduced to the region during their migration from Lwindi Chiefdom, and it continues to serve as a vital food source.

[8][61][62][63] Similarly, beans are grown predominantly in the central part of Lemera, covering areas from Rubanga to Mulenge, with large portions marketed in Bukavu and Uvira, as well as exported to neighboring countries like Burundi and Rwanda.

[8] The more common arabica species is grown in areas such as Ndolera, Buheba, Lemera, Katala, and Mugule, and is a significant export product, particularly to Burundi.