Historical survey of Bule Hora Town from its Foundation to Present

Abstract

Varies studies had been conducted in the study area but no historical research on the history of Bule Hora town was done. Thus, this study aimed to document the history of Bule Hora Town from its foundation to present. To achieve this goal, an attempt was made to collect authentic data sources from local elders and archival materials. The analyses have been made on oral interviews and different archival documents to maintain its validity and originality through examining and cross checking primary and secondary sources. Thus, exploratory research design was used to address the aim of the study. The study has encompassed from the foundation of Bule Hora Town to the present. Therefore, the study has identified that the town was founded as a garrison town during the expansion of Menelik to the area but the Imperial official Dejazmach Balcha Safo had renamed the town from Kuku to Hageremariam in 1921.It has been used until recently as the name of the town. The town had shown expansion and growth throughout the imperial period from village town to big town due to different determinant factors like the rise of modern bureaucracy, the period of Italian occupation, the land tenure system and the introduction of cash crop production and marketing. The growth and development of the town was very slow, however, major development and change in Bule Hora Town was observed after the imperial and Derg regime. The social service industry like the rise of municipal administration, improvement in road and transportation, telephone and postal service, electric service, financial institutions, education, hotel and motel and housing service in the town have made its expansion. Other developments in micro industry and enterprise and social institutions have widely been increased in the town with continuous change and improvement. Finally, Bule Hora Town become an important hub of commercial, educational, political and social service delivery hub for west Guji community in particular, and the surrounding Guji and Borana adjacent woredas as well people who travel across Bule Hora Town along Addis Ababa Kenya road in general. Therefore, the government and stakeholders should keep their role in improving socio-economic activities of the town for better development.