Discover Bukoba

LOCATION

Bukoba and Kagera Region are located in the northwestern shore of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. This area is sandwiched between Uganda in the north; Rwanda and Kigoma Region in the west; Geita and Mwanza Regions in the south; and Mara Region in the East. A significant area of Bukoba and Kagera Region is covered by Lake Victoria. The lake has a great influence on the life of Bukoba including marine transportation between the region and the rest of Tanzania through the City Mwanza, fishing and tourism, beautiful scenery, abundant rainfall compared to the rest of the country, and a moderately cool climate for an area located barely 1^o of latitude south of the Equator.

Bukoba has a rugged mountainous landscape of alternating rocky hills and valleys. These valleys have permanent or seasonal rivers and streams. In addition, these valleys have natural forests with many species of tropical trees, shrubs, herbs, moss and fungi, which have continuously been degraded by deforestation and unauthorized farming. At different times in history, these forests were home for large and small wildlife including large cats such as leopards. Much of this wildlife has disappeared with environmental degradation and hunting, except for primates such as baboons. Baboons and mongoose remain in these areas largely due to their ability to survive under pressure of human settlement by foraging for fruit, nuts, potatoes and other tubers in the farmers’ fields.

Within this complicated landscape are soils of varying depth and fertility, which describes the nature of human settlement in this area. Villages are mostly found on fertile or semi-fertile pockets of non-rocky areas on the valleys or plateaus. Alternating banana- and coffee-based villages separated by non-fertile grassland characterize traditional human settlements in Bukoba. Infertile grassland were traditionally used for annual crops such as peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) locally knows as groundnuts, finger millet (Eleusine coracana) and bambara nuts (Vigna subterranean), and short-term root tubers, especially cassava and yams. In recent years, grasslands that were traditionally used for free-range communal grazing of cattle, goats and sheep are increasingly been replaced with pine and Eucalyptus tree woodlots.

Above: Typical Bukoba Haya villages featuring a blend of banana as a staple food, coffee, native forest trees, fruit trees (oranges, tangerine, mango, papaya) and family homes. Beans and maize (corn) is widely planted under banana canopy during rain seasons. 

Above: Sunset over the background of banana and trees in a typical Bukoba village

DISCOVER BUKOBA: BUKOBA MUNICIPALITY

Located on the shore of Lake Victoria, Bukoba Municipality is the harbor and the capital of Kagera Region. It is situated 1^o20’ S, 31^o49’E and 1160m above sea level within a short distance of Entebbe International Airport and Kampala the capital city of Uganda. It is also within a reasonable driving distance of Kigali the capital of Rwanda and Nairobi the capital of Kenya compared to Dar es Salaam the commercial centre of Tanzania. Mwanza City is the nearest large Tanzanian urban centre to Bukoba. The core of Bukoba Municipality is sandwiched between the hills on which the famous Ihungo Secondary School, Rugambwa Secondary School and Ntungamo Major Seminary are situated. Over the years, these institutions have been a spring of educational, professional, business, religious and political success for many people in Bukoba and the rest of Tanzania. Bukoba Municipality serves as a hub of Kagera Region for business; banking; education; trade; culture; sports; recreation; shopping; overland, air and marine transportation; political and religious life.

DISCOVER BUKOBA: LINGUISTIC & CULTURE

The native language of Bukoba is Haya with different dialects which align well with the boundaries of traditional chiefdoms of Buhaya. These dialects are recognizable by the Haya themselves and do not impede communication among Haya groups in any way. In the Karagwe area, the dominant language is Nyambo, which is the closest variant of the Haya Language.

The Haya and Nyambo people of Tanzania are descendants of southern Uganda and have strong linguistic and cultural similarities with ethnic groups of the present southern and western Uganda, especially the Nyankole. Like all other ethnic groups in the interlacustrine region of East Africa, the Haya and Nyambo are highly hierarchical and patriarchal society where authority, norms, customs and acceptable practices flow along gender and age. A system of clans is highly developed and respected guiding how people relate to each other in marriage, naming of children, ownership of traditional land and inheritance.

To the west of Bukoba and south of Karagwe lies Biharamulo a District of Kagera Region. Biharamulo has a number of ethnic groups with considerable linguistic and cultural similarities with the Haya and Nyambo. On the southwestern corner of Kagera Region is Ngara District where the main ethnic group is the Hangaza with strong linguistic and cultural similarities with the ethnic groups of Kigoma Region of Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.

Like other parts of Tanzania and neighboring Kenya, Swahili is a common national language and fluently spoken in Bukoba and Kagera Region even though local Haya accent may enter Swahili pronunciation in rural areas. As an official language, English is widely spoken, especially in Bukoba Municipality; government offices; religious, private and public institutions; and businesses that serves local and foreign clients.

DISCOVER BUKOBA: ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

The economy of Bukoba relies largely on agriculture dominated by coffee, tea, banana, beans, vanilla, yams, sweet potatoes, sugarcane and a modest animal husbandry. Fishing is widely practiced in Lake Victoria and Lake Ikimba in the interior. There is a small manufacturing sector centered on processing of agriculture-based produce such as instant coffee by TANICA, sugar production by Kagera Sugar Company, tea processing, fish processing, and a service sector concentrated around Bukoba Municipality and other suburban areas. Shipping in Kemondo and Bukoba Municipal harbor, and cross border trade with neighbouring countries are additional economic activities. The Chato Airport currently under construction across the border in the neighboring Geita Region will provide additional access to Kagera Region, Burigi-Chato, Rubondo Island, Biharamulo, Kimisi, Ibanda and Rumanyika National Parks. There are two ports (harbors) on the shore of Lake Victoria in Bukoba that serve to transport goods and passages to and from Bukoba thereby connecting Bukoba economy with the rest of Tanzania and neighbouring countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. One port is located in Bukoba Municipality (see below) and another at Kemondo Bay about 21 km from Bukoba Municipality.

Above: Bukoba Harbor on the shore of Lake Victoria

DISCOVER BUKOBA: TOURISM & RECREATION

The shore of Lake Victoria provides and excellent tourism and recreation opportunities for local inhabitants and foreigners. The undulating hilly terrain of Bukoba and Kagera Region while a challenge for those relying on bicycles to transport small goods, it is provides a good opportunity for mountain bikers and curiosity seekers who wish to explore the country side cheaply and at their own schedule. Kiroyera Tours provides many tourism opportunities around Bukoba and distant areas that can be reached through Bukoba. The Chato Airport currently under construction across the border in the neighboring Geita Region will provide additional access to Kagera Region, Burigi-Chato, Rubondo Island, Biharamulo, Kimisi, Ibanda and Rumanyika National Parks for excellent African safaris.

Above: Shore of Lake Victoria in Bukoba with white sand beach and rocky areas for solitude relaxation and recreation.

Above: Musira Island a short boat ride from the shore just beside Bukoba harbor provides another option for an afternoon recreational tour and hiking.

DISCOVER BUKOBA: RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

Bukoba is a highly religious area where churches and mosques can be seen everywhere in Bukoba Municipality and in villages. The Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Roman Catholic Cathedral is the beautiful and most visible structure in the Bukoba Municipality. Originally built and consecrated by Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa in 1968, the Cathedral has recently undergone extensive renovation. It houses the tomb of Cardinal Laurian Rugambwa, the first Africa Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. There is a Marian Shrine at Nyakijoga in Mugana Parish featuring the replica of our Lady of Lourdes where thousands of the faithful from different countries congregate every year for pilgrimage. For details and service scheduling by religious denominations see denomination-specific pages on this blog.