Kigeli III Ndabarasa

Kigeli III Ndabarasa (reigned 1765–1792) was a warrior Mwami of the Kingdom of Rwanda during the eighteenth century.

The son of Cyilima II Rujugira, he was raised to be co-ruler by his father before attaining the throne on his death in 1765 or 1786.

[3] Both the regnal names Cyilima and Kigeli designate warrior rulers in the royal cycle of Rwanda.

The ruler of the Ndorwa, Gahaya, had asked Rujugira to adjudicate between his sons, fearful that their disagreements could tear their society apart.

Instead, after Gahaya died, Ndabarasa overcame all potential successors to the reign and brought Ndorwa under the control of Rwanda.

[4] This change was accompanied by a decrease in the power of those who were responsible for the society's rituals, such as the Tsobe, Kono and Tega clans.

Mubali was a small kingdom located east of Mutara in current day Akagera National Park.

Ndabarasa proposed the hand of his daughter Nyabugondo to king Biyoro to create an alliance between the kingdoms.

When the king had secured a way to land his forces on the island capital of Mubali, Shango, he established himself and advanced to meet his son-in-law and his family.

The plan was partially successful since the Queen Mother was captured but her son was warned in time and escaped, seeking exile in Karagwe.

[21] Out of fear for Ndabarasa, the king of Karagwe was forced to surrender Biyoro, who was reunited with his mother in Rubona where they were held as prisoners.

To ease the pain, traditional doctors cut the nerve that prevented the sufferer from taking the slightest respite.