Buhweju district was curved from Bushenyi district in July 2010. Buhweju District is bordered by Rubirizi District to the West and North West (separated by Kastyoha-Kitomi forest reserve), Ibanda District to the North East, Mbarara District to the East, Sheema District to the South East, and Bushenyi District to the South West. Nsiika, the location of the district headquarters, is approximately 53 kilometers (33 mi), by road, North West of Mbarara, the largest city in Ankole Sub-region. This location is approximately 310 kilometers (190 mi), by road, South West of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The population of Buhweju is estimated to be 143,800 people according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS Report, 2018). 80% of the topography in Buhweju district is hilly and mountainous with U and V shaped valleys.
Buhweju is currently composed of 14 Town councils and Subcounties in Buhweju District namely; Kajjani-Kashenyi Town Council, Nsiika Town Council, Nyakaziba Town council , Nyakashaka Town Council, Rwenge, Burere, Nyakishana, Karungu, Bistya, Engaju, Rubengye, Bihanga, Buhunga and Kyahenda Subcounties. Buhweju district is unique with good geographical features, natural assets and untapped tourism potential. For example, river Waterfalls, hot-springs, gold mining, plateaus and other cultural heritage sites such as Buhweju Kingdom. Buhweju boarders with Kasyoha Forest Central Reserve and with Area coverage of 433 sq. km. Activities in Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve include: Forest Walks, Bird Watching, Sightseeing, Conservation Education, Camping and Community Walks.
Buhweju people are hardworking and engaged in subsistence ad commercial agriculture such as tea and coffee production and other food crops such as matooke, millet, Irish potatoes, Cassava, passion fruits, peas, beans to mention but a few. In addition Buhweju people are welcoming, enterprising amidst staying in hard to reach and to stay rural area with limited social services. Buhweju being like any other rural based district , it is faced with number of challenges that affect people such as illiteracy and high level of school dropout, poverty, ill health and limited access to quality health care , unemployment especially among the youth, among others.