Kyaka

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Kyaka
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Kyaka
Location in Tanzania
Coordinates: 01°15′13″S31°25′12″E / 1.25361°S 31.42000°E / -1.25361; 31.42000
CountryFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Region Kagera Region
District Missenyi District
Population
 (2015 Estimate)
  Total
6,000
Time zone UTC+3 (East Africa Time)
Climate Aw

Kyaka is a town in Tanzania. It is an urban centre in Missenyi District, Kagera Region. [1] The population of Kyaka was estimated at 6,000 people in 2015. [2]

Contents

Location

Kyaka is located in Missenyi District, in Kagera Region, in northwestern Tanzania, on the southern banks of the Kagera River. This is approximately 53 kilometres (33 mi), by road, west of the city of Bukoba, where the Regional headquarters are located. [3] Kyaka is approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi), by road, south of the town of Mutukula, Tanzania at the international border with Uganda. [4] The geographical coordinates of Kyaka are:01°15'13.0"S, 31°25'12.0"E (Latitude:-1.253611; Longitude:31.420000). [1] Kyaka sits at an average elevation of 1,180 metres (3,871 ft) above sea level. [5]

Overview

The Kyaka Bridge, sometimes referred to as Kagera Bridge, spans the Kagera River at Kyaka. At Kyaka, two major road systems intersect. Highway B8 (Mutukula–Bukoba Road) meets Highway B182 (Omurushaka–Kyaka Road). [1] [6]

History

In October 1978, about 3,000 Uganda Army troops loyal to dictator Idi Amin invaded Tanzania, starting with aerial bombings. After overwhelming the weak Tanzanian border defenses, the Ugandans occupied the area north of Kagera River, called the Kagera Salient, claiming it was Ugandan territory. They blew up the Kyaka Bridge and destroyed a lot of property. [7]

As result of the invasion, the Uganda–Tanzania War erupted; the Ugandans were mostly expelled by the Tanzania People's Defence Force from the Kagera Salient in November 1978. [7] Following the conclusion of the war, the Tanzanian Government increased the strength of its police station in Kyaka to better ensure border security. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kyaka" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  2. Pius Rugonzibwa (10 August 2015). "Tanzania: Kyaka Residents to Get Clean Water" (Via AllAfrica.com). Tanzania Daily News . Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  3. "Distance Between Bukoba And Kyaka In Tanzania" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. "Distance Between Mutukula, Tanzania And Kyaka, Tanzania" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  5. Floodmap (25 April 2020). "Elevation of Kyaka, Tanzania". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  6. Tanzania National Roads Agency (25 April 2020). "Map of Kagera Region Roads Network In Tanzania" (PDF). Dar es Salaam: Tanzania National Roads Agency. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 New Vision (17 October 2019). "When Amin annexed Kagera Salient onto Uganda". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. Kamazima, Switbert Rwechungura (2004). Borders, boundaries, peoples, and states: a comparative analysis of post-independence Tanzania-Uganda border regions (PhD thesis). University of Minnesota. p. 176. OCLC   62698476.