An Historical Account of Halaba Kulito Town from its foundation to the present

This study focuses on the historical survey of Halaba Kulito town from its foundation tothe present: its foundation, physical growth, economic activities, politico-administration system, religion and social services basically from its foundation tothepresent. In this study, the researcher utilized primary and secondary sources as well as oral information and oral history through interview in order to gather the data. The town has got its development during the Italian period (1936-1941) though the historical foundation of the present Halaba kulito town was directly and indirectly related with the long distance trade in Ethiopia in the 19th century. As the findings of this study show, the location being on the important highway that extends from Hulbereg to the west of Bilate River and has been a crossroad in all directions of the region, its location contributed for the selection and growth of the town as a principal urban settlement and trade centre. The town experienced freedom from the feudal system and land lords during the five years of Italian occupation. Thus, there were various urban services set up during the Italian period. Since the1940s the town got a municipal status; and thereafter the town was administered by the head of the municipality. To some extent, there was a stable political situation in the town during Emperor Hailä selasè I until the 1960s. Like at the end of Imperial regime, the military regime was highly opposed by the inhabitants of the town. However, unlike the situations of the Imperial period, the mode of opposition in the town was underground during the Dergue regime. The town and its environs became a bone of contention among the clans of the Arsi Oromo and Silte. The inhabitants of kulito town practiced mixed economic activities during temponal scope of this study. Religiously speaking, Orthodox Christianity, Protestant and Islam had been predominantly practiced in Kulito town but the majorities are Muslim. Ethnically, the towns inhabited by different ethnic groupswho have lived together in harmonyand tolerance. There was a better setting up of social services in the town during the Derg regime thanthe Imperial regime.