Musoma

Musoma
Musoma Location in Tanzania
Coordinates: 01°30′00″S 33°48′00″E / 1.5°S 33.8°E / -1.5; 33.8
Country	Tanzania
Region	Mara Region
Elevation	1,200 ft (400 m)
Population (2002 Census)
• Total	104,851
Time zone	East Africa Time (UTC+3)
Small shops around the bus station

Musoma is a city in Tanzania. It is the capital of Mara Region, one of the administrative Regions of Tanzania.

Location

The city sits on the eastern edge of Lake Victoria, close to the International borders of Tanzania with Kenya and Uganda. Musoma is located approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi), directly south of the geographical point where the borders of the three East African countries intersect. The town is located approximately 190 kilometres (120 mi), by road, northeast of Mwanza, the nearest large city.^[1] Musoma lies approximately 480 kilometres (300 mi), by road, northwest of Arusha, the location of the headquarters of the East African Community.^[2] The coordinates of Musoma are:1° 30' 0.00"S, 33° 48' 0.00"E (Latitude:-1.5000; Longitude:33.8000).

History

The name Musoma comes from the Jita word Omusoma which when directly translated means, a spit. This is because Musoma has many spits, surrounded by Lake Victoria.

Maryknollers arrived in Musoma in 1946 to work side by side with the White Fathers, in what was then Mwanza Diocese. When Musoma was made a Diocese in 1957, Maryknoller John Rudin (now deceased) was the first bishop. While primary evangelization has been the first priority of Maryknoll in Musoma, Maryknoll priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries have also built and worked in churches, dispensaries and schools from Bunda District and the Serengeti to the Kenya border. Now in Musoma are six Maryknoll priests and brothers (just 20% of their numbers in the 1970s) in apostolates that will soon be in the hands of Tanzanians.

Geography

The lake at Musoma

The town is sited in a heavily indented bay. The Mara River, after which the administrative region of Mara Region is named, flows into Lake Victoria, in nearby Kirumi.

Climate

Population

The 2002 national census put the population of Musoma at 104,851.^[4] The current population of the city is unknown.

People

Tanzania's founding leader, President Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Tanzania's former Prime Minister, [[Joseph Sinde Warioba], both attended Mwisenge Middle School in Musoma. Politician and ambassador Paul Bomani was born in Musoma in 1925.^[5], just like Sospeter Muhongo

Musoma is home to the Wakwaya, the Wajita, the Waruri, the Luo, the Zanaki and the Kuria, amongst others; there are more than 12 ethnic groups altogether.

Economic activity

Most people in Musoma are engaged in growing cotton and fishing Nile perch from the lake. Currently, plans are underway to construct a railway line from the port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean, through Arusha, around Serengeti National Park to Musoma. From Musoma, goods will be transferred to barges and transported over Lake Victoria, to Port Bell in Kampala. The project is a joint venture between the governments of Tanzania and Uganda and is expected to cost about US$1.9 billion.^[6] The city is also served by Musoma Airport.

See also

• Musoma Airport
• Mara Region
• Railway stations in Tanzania

External links

• Location of Musoma At Google Maps

References

Coordinates: 01°30′00″S 33°48′00″E / 1.5°S 33.8°E / -1.5; 33.8