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Gitega (formerly Kitega) is the capital and one of the largest cities in Burundi. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau roughly 62 kilometres (39 mi) east by south of Bujumbura (the former capital and largest city), Gitega was the seat of the Kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966. In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status, with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and centre of commerce. A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years. == Geography == Gitega is also the capital of the homonymous province, one of the eighteen provinces of Burundi. It is located in the middle of the country, at roughly the same distance between the economical capital Bujumbura and Lake Tanganyika to the west, the Tanzanian border to the east—both at around 62 kilometres (39 mi)—and the Rwandan border, about 72 kilometres (45 mi) to the north. It is located on a broad plateau surrounded by hills, a few kilometres southwest of the convergence between the rivers Ruvyironza and Ruvubu. Ruvubu National Park, the country's biggest, lies 26 kilometres (16 mi) to the east. == History == It is the home of the Burundi's National Museum of Gitega and the Archdiocese of Gitega. Several karyenda royal drum sanctuaries are located in the area, as well as the ibwami (royal court). SOURCESWikipedia