1.1 Location
Bonga town is located at a distance of 110 km from Jimma, 449 km Addis Ababa and 725 km from Hawassa. Its Astronomical location is the town is 70 15’ North Latitude and 360 15’ East Longitude.
1.2 Foundation
The town was founded in 1557 during the reign of Bongetato who was king from the Kaffa kingdom. During this time the town was located along the main trade line, and the location was suitable for military and the area was famous market place of coffee, honey, incense and spice and this made the settlement to be developed into a town and also expand. The area where people settled during the foundation of the town was around the palace of the king Bongitato on the hill called Bonga or Sobra. This hill was known as Bonga in the days of Bongitato (king of Bonga). The hill of Bonga in the days of Bongitato was considered as a sacred site.
Regarding the naming of the town the name Bonga was said to have come from the Kafigna word Boo’nooge which means in the name of the supreme. When people come to the palace of Bonge Shanbeto they had to clear the forest and to pass robbers in the forest people used to say in the name of the supreme and the name was taken from this.
Bonga became municipal town starting from 1954. The town was recognized as Kebelle in 1976, as Special Kefetgna in 1995 and town administration since 2000. In 2002/2003 the SNNP Regional State Works and Urban Development Bureau study has classified Bonga as one of the city administration and the 22 reform towns in the region. Currently the town
