Kigoma Region

Geography

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.

The region's total area is 45066 km2, of which 37037 sqkm is land and 8029 sqkm is water. The region's total area is just 161 km2 less than that of Estonia. , approximately 20,000 km2 was in forests and 12,000 km2 was suitable for grazing or farming.

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

History

In precolonial Africa the region was a source of ivory and slaves. Tabora and Ujiji were Arab staging areas for shipments to the coast. 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. In colonial times, the Kigoma area was known as the Western Region and the capital was Tabora.

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.:

Demographics

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

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

• Godfrey Mwakikagile, writer
• Ali Kiba, musician

References

References

1. "IS0 3166". ISO.
2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab".
3. [http://www.nbs.go.tz/sensa/PDF/Census%20General%20Report%20-%2029%20March%202013_Combined_Final%20for%20Printing.pdf Population Distribution by Administrative Units, United Republic of Tanzania, 2013] {{webarchive. link. (2013-06-12)
4. [http://www.nbs.go.tz/takwimu/references/Abstract2011.zip Statistical Abstract 2011, Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics] {{webarchive. link. (2013-11-05)
5. (December 1998). "Kigoma region: Socio-Economic Profile". Planning Commission, Dar es Salaam, and the Regional Commissioner's Office, Kigoma.
6. "''National Sample Census of Agriculture 2002/03: Volume Vq: Regional Report: Kagera Region'', Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics, December 2007, page 1".
7. {{harvnb. Planning. 1998
8. Head of Regional Office, Kigoma. (2011). "Taarifa ya Miaka 50 ya Uhuru wa Tanzania Mkoa wa Kigoma (Information concerning 50 Years of the Independence of Tanzania: Kigoma)". Office of Prime Minister.
9. Dugard, Martin. (2004). "Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone". Broadway Books.
10. {{Harvnb. Dugard. 2004
11. "2012 population and housing census: population distribution by administrative areas". National Bureau of Statistics.
12. "Matokeo ya Sensa". [[National Bureau of Statistics (Tanzania)]].