Kitoola are a large ethnic group living in and around Mount Gardulla, as well as on the eastern flank of the Ganjuli basin, in southern Ethiopia. The Kitoola comprises five large societies (viz; Dhirashaa, Mosiye, Kusume, Mashole, Dhobase) and few migrants having different backgrounds. The town of Gardulla Awraja, was established in 1890 GC and the local people ethnic name ‘Kitoola’ has taken and with some modification as the name of the central administrative town Gidole —like the ‘Karataa’/Konso ethnic name is taken as an administrative town ‘Karat’. ‘Gardulla Awraja’ meaning Gurdulla zonal administration under which Kamba, Konso, Bonke, Gumayde and Gardulla Surrounding Woredas have been administerd until the end of GERG regime. Gardulla Awraja is one the parts of Gamo-Gofa province. These Kitoola ethnic people basically speak ‘Kitooliya’ which belongs to Cushitic language family.[1].
With regard to the movement of Menelik II[2] towards south to unify Ethiopia (-1883 EC); Gardalla-Borena province[3] covered areas extending from Jima province to the Kenya boundary Megan, Moyale, Nebere Wusin and Lake Turkana.[4]
The area was controlled in 1883 EC by the soldiers led by generals Damene and Geneme. Both generals H/Giorgis Dinegda and Liul Seged established Gardulla as one of the Ethiopian central towns and it served as administrative center for 45 years from 1883-1928.
Following Italy defeat, Italian forces came to revenge Ethiopia invaded and bombarded the Gardulla town in 1928 EC. So, it was turned into ashes. The administrative town—Gidole was established instead and served its central role in Gardulla-Borena province for five years from 1929-1934 EC.
In 1934 EC the state administrative minister/‘Hagere Gizat’ was divided the Gardalla-Borena province into four ‘Awrajas’/zonal administrations (Geleb and Hamer Bako—Gazer town/nowadays Debub Omo—Jinka town, Gardulla—Gidole town, Gamo—Chencha town and Gofa—Buliqi/Sawla town)[5] for the sake of sequit administration and tax collection and the newly established province was called Gamo-Gofa province. Chencha town was the administrative center of this province for six years from 1934-1939 EC. The administrator of the province Dejazmach Geresu Dhuki re-shifted the center of administration to Gidole and it served as the central town for 10 years from 1940-1949 EC[6]