{"id":66,"date":"2024-04-04T11:22:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T11:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/?p=66"},"modified":"2026-08-01T00:13:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:13:33","slug":"mwanza-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townsvillages.com\/tanzania\/mwanza-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Mwanza Region"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mwanza Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Mwanza) lies on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania. The 2022 census recorded a population of 3,699,872, second only to Dar es Salaam among Tanzania&#8217;s 31 regions. Mwanza city is the regional capital and the country&#8217;s main port on Lake Victoria, and Ukerewe Island offshore is the largest inland island in Africa.<\/p>\n<h2>Districts of Mwanza Region<\/h2>\n<p>Mwanza Region is administered through eight councils. Two of them, Mwanza City and Ilemela, cover the built-up area around the regional capital; the other six are largely rural. Populations are from the 2022 census.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>District<\/th>\n<th>Council type<\/th>\n<th>Population (2022 census)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Buchosa<\/td>\n<td>District council<\/td>\n<td>413,110<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ilemela<\/td>\n<td>Municipal council<\/td>\n<td>509,687<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Kwimba<\/td>\n<td>District council<\/td>\n<td>480,025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Magu<\/td>\n<td>District council<\/td>\n<td>421,119<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Misungwi<\/td>\n<td>District council<\/td>\n<td>467,867<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mwanza<\/td>\n<td>City council<\/td>\n<td>594,834<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sengerema<\/td>\n<td>District council<\/td>\n<td>425,415<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ukerewe<\/td>\n<td>District council<\/td>\n<td>387,815<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Buchosa council was carved out of Sengerema District and covers its western half, so the two are often listed together. Mwanza City council covers Nyamagana District.<\/p>\n<h2>Towns and Villages in Mwanza Region<\/h2>\n<p>The settlements below are grouped by district. Besides Mwanza city, the larger centres are Sengerema, Nansio on Ukerewe Island, Misungwi, Magu, Ngudu and Kisesa.<\/p>\n<h3>Nyamagana District (Mwanza City)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Beda<\/li>\n<li>Buhungire<\/li>\n<li>Ibanda<\/li>\n<li>Iwanda<\/li>\n<li>Lumoga<\/li>\n<li>Mahango<\/li>\n<li>Masemere<\/li>\n<li>Mkolani<\/li>\n<li>Mwanza<\/li>\n<li>Nyakato<\/li>\n<li>Nyanhemwa<\/li>\n<li>Nyegezi<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Ilemela District<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Busogwa<\/li>\n<li>Bwiru<\/li>\n<li>Igombe<\/li>\n<li>Ihale<\/li>\n<li>Ilemera<\/li>\n<li>Lubumba<\/li>\n<li>Pansiansi<\/li>\n<li>Sangabuye<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Magu District<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Bubinza<\/li>\n<li>Bukandwe<\/li>\n<li>Igokelo<\/li>\n<li>Kabila<\/li>\n<li>Kihangara<\/li>\n<li>Kisabo<\/li>\n<li>Kisesa<\/li>\n<li>Kitongo<\/li>\n<li>Kongolo<\/li>\n<li>Lubugu<\/li>\n<li>Magu<\/li>\n<li>Misambo<\/li>\n<li>Mwamabanza<\/li>\n<li>Nyanguge<\/li>\n<li>Sakuma<\/li>\n<li>Sayaga<\/li>\n<li>Shinema<\/li>\n<li>Sola<\/li>\n<li>Uita<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Kwimba District<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Bukwimba<\/li>\n<li>Bungulwa<\/li>\n<li>Buyogo<\/li>\n<li>Chasalawe<\/li>\n<li>Goshi<\/li>\n<li>Ibindo<\/li>\n<li>Ilula<\/li>\n<li>Ishingisha<\/li>\n<li>Izugawima<\/li>\n<li>Jojiro<\/li>\n<li>Kadashi<\/li>\n<li>Kakoro<\/li>\n<li>Kukibiji<\/li>\n<li>Malialuguru<\/li>\n<li>Malya<\/li>\n<li>Mantare<\/li>\n<li>Mwamashimba<\/li>\n<li>Mwandu<\/li>\n<li>Mwankulwe<\/li>\n<li>Mwawuchuma<\/li>\n<li>Ngudu<\/li>\n<li>Nyahanga<\/li>\n<li>Nyambiti<\/li>\n<li>Nyamilama<\/li>\n<li>Nyanhonge<\/li>\n<li>Runere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Misungwi District<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Bukumbi<\/li>\n<li>Bukwaya<\/li>\n<li>Busongo<\/li>\n<li>Dukure<\/li>\n<li>Dundu<\/li>\n<li>Fela<\/li>\n<li>Fulo<\/li>\n<li>Guwalu<\/li>\n<li>Idetemia<\/li>\n<li>Igokelo<\/li>\n<li>Igongwa<\/li>\n<li>Ihumba<\/li>\n<li>Ilujamate<\/li>\n<li>Inonelwa<\/li>\n<li>Isishunu<\/li>\n<li>Isuja<\/li>\n<li>Kanyelele<\/li>\n<li>Kasadi<\/li>\n<li>Kijima<\/li>\n<li>Kijinga<\/li>\n<li>Kikongo<\/li>\n<li>Kitongo<\/li>\n<li>Kiwaye<\/li>\n<li>Koromije<\/li>\n<li>Luanungu<\/li>\n<li>Lubiri<\/li>\n<li>Mabale<\/li>\n<li>Mahando<\/li>\n<li>Manangwa<\/li>\n<li>Mapalinga<\/li>\n<li>Mashigambiti<\/li>\n<li>Mbalika<\/li>\n<li>Mbega<\/li>\n<li>Mharamba<\/li>\n<li>Misasi<\/li>\n<li>Misungwi<\/li>\n<li>Mondo<\/li>\n<li>Mwabuki<\/li>\n<li>Mwanangwa<\/li>\n<li>Mwanatumba<\/li>\n<li>Ndagwasa<\/li>\n<li>Nyakitanda<\/li>\n<li>Nyambaga<\/li>\n<li>Nyamikandu<\/li>\n<li>Nyanghomango<\/li>\n<li>Nyanzimba<\/li>\n<li>Nzima<\/li>\n<li>Pambani<\/li>\n<li>Selamhande<\/li>\n<li>Shiguna<\/li>\n<li>Sungiwe<\/li>\n<li>Ukiriguru<\/li>\n<li>Unyamhanda<\/li>\n<li>Usagara<\/li>\n<li>Wanembe<\/li>\n<li>Winenekeza<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Sengerema and Buchosa Districts<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Arogongo<\/li>\n<li>Buchenzi<\/li>\n<li>Buhama<\/li>\n<li>Bukokwa<\/li>\n<li>Busenge<\/li>\n<li>Busisi<\/li>\n<li>Busulwangiri<\/li>\n<li>Butaranda<\/li>\n<li>Buyagu<\/li>\n<li>Hakachindo<\/li>\n<li>Ibondo<\/li>\n<li>Ikuragusa<\/li>\n<li>Kabagombe<\/li>\n<li>Kahunda<\/li>\n<li>Kalebezo<\/li>\n<li>Kanyara<\/li>\n<li>Kanyasonga<\/li>\n<li>Karumo<\/li>\n<li>Kaseni<\/li>\n<li>Kasungamile<\/li>\n<li>Katunguru<\/li>\n<li>Mwangika<\/li>\n<li>Ngoma<\/li>\n<li>Nyakaliro<\/li>\n<li>Nyakasungwa<\/li>\n<li>Nyamadoke<\/li>\n<li>Nyamazugo<\/li>\n<li>Nyamililo<\/li>\n<li>Nyangombe<\/li>\n<li>Nyazenda<\/li>\n<li>Nyehunge<\/li>\n<li>Rukobe<\/li>\n<li>Sengerema<\/li>\n<li>Sima<\/li>\n<li>Tabaruka<\/li>\n<li>Uzinga<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Ukerewe District<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Bugolora<\/li>\n<li>Bugura<\/li>\n<li>Buguza<\/li>\n<li>Buhima<\/li>\n<li>Bukiko<\/li>\n<li>Bukindo<\/li>\n<li>Bukondo<\/li>\n<li>Bukonyo<\/li>\n<li>Bukungu<\/li>\n<li>Buramba<\/li>\n<li>Busagami<\/li>\n<li>Busiri<\/li>\n<li>Buzegwe<\/li>\n<li>Bwiru<\/li>\n<li>Bwisya<\/li>\n<li>Chankamba<\/li>\n<li>Chifule<\/li>\n<li>Hamukoko<\/li>\n<li>Igala Rutale<\/li>\n<li>Ihebo<\/li>\n<li>Ilangala<\/li>\n<li>Kabingo<\/li>\n<li>Kagunguli<\/li>\n<li>Kamea<\/li>\n<li>Katende<\/li>\n<li>Kigara<\/li>\n<li>Kihungura<\/li>\n<li>Kuruego<\/li>\n<li>Lubaga<\/li>\n<li>Lugongo<\/li>\n<li>Mibungo<\/li>\n<li>Mubule<\/li>\n<li>Mugu<\/li>\n<li>Muhura<\/li>\n<li>Mukunu<\/li>\n<li>Multanga<\/li>\n<li>Murambo Namagamba<\/li>\n<li>Muriti<\/li>\n<li>Murutanga<\/li>\n<li>Mushozi<\/li>\n<li>Nakamwa<\/li>\n<li>Nakatunguru<\/li>\n<li>Namagondo<\/li>\n<li>Nansio<\/li>\n<li>Ndayambuzi<\/li>\n<li>Nyamanga<\/li>\n<li>Nyangombe<\/li>\n<li>Rutali<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other localities<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Bangwe<\/li>\n<li>Butimba<\/li>\n<li>Ihalele<\/li>\n<li>Ikula<\/li>\n<li>Irunda<\/li>\n<li>Kayenzi<\/li>\n<li>Kazunzu<\/li>\n<li>Kiloleli<\/li>\n<li>Kishinda<\/li>\n<li>Ligembe<\/li>\n<li>Lubanga<\/li>\n<li>Mkorani<\/li>\n<li>Mulumo<\/li>\n<li>Mwanghanda<\/li>\n<li>Nyamtereza<\/li>\n<li>Nyamtukusa<\/li>\n<li>Nzera<\/li>\n<li>Rwazera<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Geography<\/h2>\n<p>Mwanza Region covers 25,233 km2, but only 11,796 km2 of that is dry land. The rest is Tanzanian water in Lake Victoria, including the gulf that almost cuts the region in two. Lake Victoria forms the northern boundary and separates Mwanza from Kagera and Mara Regions. Simiyu Region lies to the east, Shinyanga Region to the south and Geita Region to the west.<\/p>\n<p>The land is mostly flat to gently rolling, between about 1,200 and 1,400 metres above sea level, and broken by rounded granite outcrops. Those boulder formations are the region&#8217;s most recognisable landform and one of them, on Saanane Island in the Mwanza Gulf, sits inside Saanane Island National Park, the smallest national park in Tanzania. The Moame, Isanga, Mirongo, Nyarua and Ndemabolia rivers drain the interior towards the lake. Ukerewe Island, reached by ferry from Mwanza, is the largest island in Lake Victoria and the largest inland island in Africa. Ukara Island lies just north of it.<\/p>\n<h2>Economy and Local Life<\/h2>\n<p>Farming supports most households. Maize takes about 51.8 per cent of the planted area, followed by cassava and rice, and cotton is the leading cash crop. Cotton from Kwimba, Misungwi and Magu feeds ginneries in and around Mwanza city.<\/p>\n<p>Fishing is the other pillar. Roughly 27,600 people work in the lake fishery, landing Nile perch, tilapia and dagaa, the small sardine dried on racks along the shore. Nile perch processing plants in Mwanza city ship fillets abroad, and the beaches at Nyehunge, Kahunda, Kisesa and Nansio double as landing sites and market points. Gold mining adds further income, both from licensed operations and from small-scale diggings.<\/p>\n<p>Mwanza city itself is the commercial centre for the whole Lake Zone, with wholesale markets, a cotton and fish processing base, and trade links across the lake to Uganda and Kenya. Livestock keeping is widespread among Sukuma households, who form the largest ethnic group in the region.<\/p>\n<h2>Getting There<\/h2>\n<p>Trunk road T4 runs around Lake Victoria and links Mwanza north-west towards Geita and Bukoba and east towards Musoma. Trunk road T8 heads south from Mwanza through Shinyanga and Tabora towards Mbeya. Mwanza Airport, on the lakeshore in Ilemela, handles daily flights to Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Kilimanjaro.<\/p>\n<p>A branch of the Central Line railway reaches Mwanza from Tabora, and a standard gauge line to the city is under construction. Passenger and vehicle ferries cross the Mwanza Gulf and run to Nansio on Ukerewe Island, which has no road link to the mainland from the Mwanza side.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3>How many districts are in Mwanza Region?<\/h3>\n<p>Mwanza Region is administered through eight councils: Buchosa, Ilemela, Kwimba, Magu, Misungwi, Mwanza City, Sengerema and Ukerewe.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the population of Mwanza Region?<\/h3>\n<p>The 2022 census recorded a population of 3,699,872, up from 2,772,509 in 2012. Mwanza is the second most populous region in Tanzania.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the capital of Mwanza Region?<\/h3>\n<p>Mwanza city, on the southern shore of Lake Victoria. Mwanza City council had a population of 594,834 at the 2022 census.<\/p>\n<h3>What villages are in Mwanza Region?<\/h3>\n<p>The list above covers more than 200 towns and villages by district, from Nansio and Bwisya on Ukerewe Island to Ngudu in Kwimba, Usagara in Misungwi and Nyehunge in Buchosa.<\/p>\n<h3>How do you get to Ukerewe Island?<\/h3>\n<p>By ferry from Mwanza city to Nansio, the district headquarters. There is no bridge from the Mwanza side of the lake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mwanza Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Mwanza) lies on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania. The 2022 census recorded a population of 3,699,872, second only to Dar es Salaam among Tanzania&#8217;s 31 regions. Mwanza city is the regional capital and the country&#8217;s main port on Lake Victoria, and Ukerewe Island offshore is the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Mwanza Region: Districts, Towns & Villages","_seopress_titles_desc":"Mwanza Region has 8 councils and 3,699,872 people (2022 census), with Mwanza city as capital. 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