Kigoma Region

Last updated
Kigoma Region
Mkoa wa Kigoma (Swahili)
Region
Lake shore in Kagongo Ward.jpg
Kigoma High Court, Bangwe Ward, Kigoma.jpg
Mango Row, Kagera Ward, Kigoma-Ujiji.jpg
From top to bottom:
Lake Tanganyika in Kagongo Ward, Kigoma District, Kigoma High Court and Mango row in historic Ujiji
Nickname: 
Tanzania's Sunset Region
Tanzania Kigoma location map.svg
Location in Tanzania
Coordinates: 4°52′56.64″S29°39′41.4″E / 4.8824000°S 29.661500°E / -4.8824000; 29.661500
CountryFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
ZoneWestern
Named for Kigoma
CapitalKigoma
Districts
List
Government
 • Regional CommissionerThobias Andengenye
Area
 • Total37,040 km2 (14,300 sq mi)
 • Rank 8th of 31
Highest elevation
(Kicherere)
1,917 m (6,289 ft)
Population
 (2022) [1]
 • Total2,470,967
 • Rank 10th of 31
 • Density67/km2 (170/sq mi)
Demonym Kigoman
Ethnic groups
 • Settler Swahili, Arab, Congolese & Burundians
 • Native Ha, Vinza, Tongwe, Jiji & Holoholo
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode
47xxx
Area code 028
ISO 3166 code TZ-05 [2]
HDI (2021)0.520 [3]
low · 19th of 25
Website Official website
SymbolsofTanzania
Bird
Die Vogel Ost-Afrikas. Baron Carl Claus von Deer Decken's Reisen in Ost-Africa. Bd. 4 (1870) (20923923426).jpg
Livingstone's turaco
Butterfly
Large striped swordtail (Graphium antheus) underside.jpg
Large striped swordtail
Fish
Cyphotilapia frontosa - Karlsruhe Zoo 01.jpg
Frontosa Kigoma
Mammal
Schimpanse Pan troglodytes Zoo Augsburg-05.jpg
Chimpanzee
Tree
Zanthoxylum gilletii-Africa Museum (2).jpg
East African Satinwood
Mineral
Rock salt (halitite) (Klodawa Salt Dome, Zechstein Formation, Upper Permian; Klodawa Salt Mine, central Poland) 1 (15953564096).jpg
Halite

Kigoma Region (Mkoa wa Kigoma in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions, with the city of Kigoma as the reigonal capital. Kigoma Region borders Kagera Region, Geita Region, Katavi Region, Tabora Region, DRC and Burundi According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 2,127,930, which was higher than the pre-census projection of 1,971,332. [4] : page 2  For 2002–2012, the region's 2.4 percent average annual population growth rate was tied for the fourteenth highest in the country. [4] : page 4  It was also the sixteenth most densely populated region with 57 people per square kilometer. [4] : page 6  With a size of 45,066 square kilometres (17,400 sq mi), [5] the region is slightly smaller than Estonia (45,227 square kilometres (17,462 sq mi)).

Contents

Geography

Most of Kigoma Region showing the Malagarasi River. Malagarasi River.jpg
Most of Kigoma Region showing the Malagarasi River.

Kigoma Region resides in the northwestern corner of Tanzania, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. The region lies at about 5° south and 30° east of Greenwich and is bordered to the north by both Burundi and the Kagera Region. To the east, it is bordered by the Geita Region and Tabora Regions, to the south by the Katavi Region, and to the west by Lake Tanganyika, which forms a border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [6]

Uvinza Salt, Uvinza Ward.jpg
Uvinza Salt mined in Uvinza District.
Nyerere House Marker, Kitongoni Ward, Ujiji.jpg
Nyerere's house marker in Kitongoni.
Swahili home, Kigoma Ward.jpg
Swahili home in Kigoma.
Kigoma habor from Kibirizi Ward.jpg
Kigoma harbor from Kibirizi
Lake Tanganyika view, Kigoma Ward.jpg
Lake Tanganyika view from Kigoma Ward

The region's total area is 45,066 square kilometres (17,400 sq mi), [7] of which 37,037 square kilometres (14,300 sq mi) is land and 8,029 square kilometres (3,100 sq mi) is water. [6] The region's total area is just 161 square kilometres (62 sq mi) less than that of Estonia. As of 1998, approximately 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) was in forests and 12,000 square kilometres (4,600 sq mi) was suitable for grazing or farming. [6]

Kigoma Region is on a plateau that slopes from the northeast at about 1,750 metres (5,740 ft) down to 800 metres (2,600 ft) at the shore of lake Tanganyika. [8] The topography in the north and east is gently rolling hills that gradually become steeper as they get closer to the Albertine Rift margin. [8] The most important river is the Malagarasi, with the Luiche and the Ruchugi being the two other major rivers draining the region. [8]

History

Stanley meeting Livingstone Rencontre de Livingstone - How I found Livingstone (fr).png
Stanley meeting Livingstone

In precolonial Africa the region was a source of ivory and slaves. [9] Tabora and Ujiji were Arab staging areas for shipments to the coast. [10] It was visited by the early European explorers Richard Burton, John Speke, David Livingstone, and Henry Morton Stanley. In fact, Stanley met Livingstone in Ujiji on the shores of Lake Tanganyika on 27 October 1871. [11] In colonial times, the Kigoma area was known as the Western Region and the capital was Tabora. [9]

Administrative divisions

Districts

Kigoma Region is divided into six districts, each administered by a council except Kigoma and Kasulu which administered with two council each.: [4]

Districts of Kigoma Region
MapDistrictPopulation
(2012)
Kigoma in Tanzania.svg Buhigwe District Buhigwe District Council254,342
Kakonko District Kakonko District Council167,555
Kasulu District Kasulu District Rural Council425,794
Kasulu District Urban Council208,244
Kibondo District Kibondo District Council261,331
Kigoma District Kigoma District Rural Council211,566
Kigoma-Ujiji Municipal Council215,458
Uvinza District Uvinza District Council383,640
Total2,127,930

Demographics

Kigoma Region has a total population of 2,127,930. [12]

Ha people are the largest ethnic group living here, alongside other significant populations are of the Wabembe, Wamanyema, Watongwe and Wavinza, Sukuma and Haya. Approximately 150,000 refugees from Burundi and almost another 80,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo reside in three refugee camps in the Kigoma Region, named Nyarugusu, Mtendeli and Nduta.

Notable people from Kigoma Region

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ujiji</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Ujiji is the oldest town in western Tanzania and is located in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region. Originally a Swahili settlement and then an Arab slave trading post by the mid-nineteenth century nominally under the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the town is the oldest in western Tanzania. In 1900, the population was estimated at 10,000 and in 1967 about 41,000. The site is a registered National Historic Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regions of Tanzania</span>

Tanzania is administratively divided into thirty-one regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kagera Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Kagera Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 35,686 km2 (13,778 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the land area of the Netherlands. Kagera Region is bordered to the east by Lake Victoria, Mwanza Region and Mara Region. The region is bordered to the south by Geita Region and Kigoma Region. Lastly, Kagera borders Rwanda to the west, Uganda to the north and Burundi to the south west. The regional capital city is Bukoba. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 2,989,299, an increase from 2,458,023 recorded in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mwanza Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Mwanza Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions, covering a total land area of 25,233 km2 (9,743 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of North Macedonia. Mwanza Region is bordered to the north through Lake Victoria by the Kagera Region and Mara Region, to the east by Simiyu Region, to the south by the Shinyanga Region and to the west by Geita Region. The regional capital is the city of Mwanza. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 3,699,872 and national census of 2012 had 2,772,509. Mwanza Region is the second region with high population in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shinyanga Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Shinyanga Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers a land area of 18,555 km2 (7,164 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Fiji. The region is bordered to the north by the Mwanza, Mara, and Kagera Regions and to the south by the Tabora Region. In addition, the Kigoma Region borders the region to the west, and the Simiyu Region and a sliver of Singida Region to the east. The regional capital is the municipality of Shinyanga. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 2,241,299.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabora Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Tabora Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions located in mid-western part of Tanzania. The regional capital is the municipality of Tabora. Tabora is bordered by Shinyanga to the north, Singida to the east, Mbeya and Songwe to the south. lastly, Katavi, Kigoma and Geita, border Tabora to the west. Tabora is by far the largest region in Tanzania by area. Most of the population in the region is concentrated in the north in Nzega district. According to the 2022 national census, Tabora Region had a population of 3,391,679.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biharamulo District</span> District in Kagera Region, Tanzania

Biharamulo District is one of the eight districts of the Kagera Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by Karagwe District and Muleba District, to the east and south by Geita Region, to the west by Ngara District, and to the southwest by the Kigoma Region. Its administrative seat is Biharamulo town. Biharamulo Game Reserve is located within the borders of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Tanzania</span>

As of 2021, there are 31 regions of Tanzania which are divided into 184 districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvinza</span> District of Kigoma Region, Tanzania

Uvinza is one of the eight administrative districts of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. Uvinza is bordered to the northwest by Kigoma District and Kigoma-Ujiji District. North of the district is bordered by Kasulu District. Lake Tanganyika borders the district on the west. Mpanda District in Katavi Region borders the district to the south and Kaliua District in Tabora Region borders the district to the east. The district is named in honor of the Vinza people whom the western part of district was their historic kingdom. Southern Uvinza District is home to the Mahale Mountains National Park. A unique park that is home to both Chimpanzees and lions in the same habitat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geita Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Geita Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 20,054 km2 (7,743 sq mi)."Geita Region Size". The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Slovenia. Geita Region is bordered to the east by Lake Victoria, Mwanza Region and Shinyanga Region. The region is bordered by Tabora Region and Kigoma Region to the south and south west respectively. Lastly, Gieta is borders Kagera Region to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katavi Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Katavi Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 45,843 km2 (17,700 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Estonia. Katavi Region is bordered to the east by Tabora Region, and to the south by Rukwa Region and Songwe Region. Lastly, Katavi borders DRC on Lake Tanganyika to the west. The region derives its name from Katavi, the spirit of lake Tanganyika. The regional capital city is Mpanda. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 1,152,958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaliua District</span> District in Tabora Region, Tanzania

Kaliua District is one of the seven districts of the Tabora Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by Kahama and Ushetu Districts, to the east by Uyui District and Urambo District, to the south by Katavi Region and to the west by Uvinza District and Geita Region. Its administrative seat is the town of Kaliua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kigoma Rural District</span> District of Kigoma Region, Tanzania

Kigoma District is one of the eight administrative districts of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The district lies north of the city of Kigoma-Ujiji. Uvinza District, to the west and south of Ujiji, was split off from the Kigoma District in 1 July, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kagera, Kigoma-Ujiji</span> Ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District, Kigoma Region

Kagera is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 24.3 km2 (9.4 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 786 m (2,579 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 9,950 people in the ward, from 9,040 in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasingirima</span> Ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District, Kigoma Region

Kasingirima is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 0.2 km2 (0.077 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 799 m (2,621 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 3,156 people in the ward, from 2,867 in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mwanga Kaskazini</span> Ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District, Kigoma Region

Mwanga Kaskazini is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 3.7 km2 (1.4 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 803 m (2,635 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 26,620 people in the ward, from 24,184 in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusimbi</span> Ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District, Kigoma Region

Rusimbi is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 783 m (2,569 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 7,462 people in the ward, from 6,779 in 2012.

Buzebazeba is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 7.8 km2 (3.0 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 792 m (2,598 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 20,304 people in the ward, from 18,446 in 2012.

Kipampa is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 1.8 km2 (0.69 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 777 m (2,549 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 8,714 people in the ward, from 7,917 in 2012.

Majengo is an administrative ward in Kigoma-Ujiji District of Kigoma Region in Tanzania. The ward covers an area of 1.1 km2 (0.42 sq mi), and has an average elevation of 784 m (2,572 ft). In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 4,765 people in the ward, from 4,329 in 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "Matokeo ya Sensa". sensa.nbs.go.tz (in Swahili). Dodoma, Tanzania: National Bureau of Statistics (Tanzania). Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "IS0 3166". ISO. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
  3. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Population Distribution by Administrative Units, United Republic of Tanzania, 2013 Archived 2013-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Statistical Abstract 2011, Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 3 "Kigoma region: Socio-Economic Profile" (PDF). Planning Commission, Dar es Salaam, and the Regional Commissioner's Office, Kigoma. December 1998. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2004.
  7. ↑ "National Sample Census of Agriculture 2002/03: Volume Vq: Regional Report: Kagera Region, Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics, December 2007, page 1" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  8. 1 2 3 Planning 1998 , p. 2
  9. 1 2 Head of Regional Office, Kigoma (2011), "2.0 Historia Fupi ya Mkoa (Short History of the Region)" (PDF), Taarifa ya Miaka 50 ya Uhuru wa Tanzania Mkoa wa Kigoma (Information concerning 50 Years of the Independence of Tanzania: Kigoma) (in Swahili), Office of Prime Minister, pp. 4–7, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-27
  10. ↑ Dugard, Martin (2004). Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone . New York: Broadway Books. p.  68. ISBN   978-0-7679-1074-3. [not the first edition]
  11. ↑ Dugard 2004 , p. 266
  12. ↑ "2012 population and housing census: population distribution by administrative areas" (PDF). National Bureau of Statistics. p. 103. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 12, 2013.
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