Banyaruanda

a people living in the Republic of Rwanda, the neighboring regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the areas around Jinja in Uganda. Total population, 5,600,000 (1967 estimate). The language of the Ban-yaruanda is Urunyaruanda, which belongs to the northern group of the Bantu language family. The Banyaruanda are closely related to the Barundi in origins, language, and culture. The majority retain local traditional beliefs; some are Christians. Their chief occupations are agriculture and cattle raising; there is substantial seasonal migration of agricultural workers to enterprises in Uganda, Kenya, and other areas.