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Kagera Region - Nyegela Waitu - Karibu - Welcome!

Kagera Region is situated in the northwestern corner of Tanzania. The regional capital is Bukoba Town, which is about 1,500 km from Dar Es Salaam by road. Kagera Region shares borders with Uganda to the North, Rwanda and Burundi to the West, the Kigoma and Mwanza Regions to the South and Lake Victoria to the East.

Kagera region is Tanzania’s 15th largest region and accounts for approximately 3.2% of the total 883,749 sq. km. land area of Tanzania. Kagera lies at 3,750 feet above Sea level. It has reasonably fertile old soils but over used in some parts of the region has lead to soil exhaustion and a need for the use of fertilizer.

Kagere region has 8 major district, and 2 constituents which, are Bukoba Mjini, Bukoba Vijijini, Nkenge, Biharamuro Mashariki, Biharamuro Magharibi, Ngara, Karagwe, Kyerwa, Muleba Kaskazini, and Muleba Kusini. Visit Bunge website for MP's   http://www.bunge.go.tz/bunge/Mp_ByRegion.asp

2002 Population Census:

source:http://www.tanzania.go.tz/census/kagera.htm

Culture heritage and traditions

Kagera Region’s inhabitants are mostly peasants tending small patches of land. Agriculture in rural regions mainly involves cultivation of banana plants, beans, maize and root plants as well as cash crops like coffee, cotton, sugar – cane, tea and vanilla. Some people graze a few cows for milk and manure, and some people keep goats and chicken. There are also fishing villages doted along the shore of lake Victoria. The most famous villages are Bugabo, Musila island, Kifungwi, and Nyamukuzi.

Traditional dance:
“Ngoma” is the major traditional dance. Traditional dances come in a variety of styles including Omutoro, Amayaga, Mulekule, Amakondele, Akasimbo.

Story telling:
Stories and legends of ancient times are commonly told at night when the family gathers for exchanging views. Stories are normally narrated by the elders. They have their meaning in strengthening norms and conducts of the young and the roles of gender. They are called “Engano” in Kihaya.

Traditional architecture / crafts:
Traditional houses are called “Mushonge” these are round grass houses strengthened by large poles of tree (enyomyo). What is unique is that the construction begins with the roof rather than the ground foundation.

Link: http://www.kagera.org/index.htm

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