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History

1.0 An Overview

The present Musoma Municipal started way back in the late years of 19th Century as German fortification point. The name Musoma was derived from a local dialect which literally can be translated as a promontory. It originates from the word Omusoma which means, a spit or a piece of land that protrudes into the Lake, as Musoma’s many spits pointing into the surrounding of Lake Victoria.

After the British took over from the German rule the role of Musoma changed to administrative and service centered roles which are practiced today.

The Musoma settlement expanded faster and in 1963 it assumed Township status and on 01st July, 2005 was promoted to a status of Municipality. Musoma is one of the six administrative districts in Mara Region.

Historically Musoma district carry a big history of the Country because here is where the late father of the nation Mwl. Julius Kambarage Nyerere was born in Butiama on 13th April 1922.

Musoma Municipal, besides being the only Municipal in Mara Region, it is also the headquarters of Mara region, a major Tanzanian port of Lake Victoria and a business centre of the Great Lake Region and East Africa Community. The City can easily be reached by Ugandans and Kenyans through Lake Victoria and by road to countries such Rwanda, DRC and Burundi through Mara region.

2.0  Geographical Location        

Musoma Municipality is the head quarters of Mara region in The United Republic of Tanzania. It covers approximately 84.1 square kilometers and is composed of plains with small scattered hills. The Municipality sits on the eastern edge of Lake Victoria, close to the International borders of Tanzania with Kenya and Uganda. The area of Musoma Municipality is a slope that slowly falls down towards Lake Victoria. The highest peak is 1,320 meters above the sea level. Scattered hills are found at most in the west and south of Musoma. The whole municipal area is a peninsula east of Lake Victoria.

The Musoma Municipality is located approximately 225 kilometers, by road, northeast of Mwanza, the nearest large city and lies approximately 480 kilometers, by road, northwest of Arusha, the location of the headquarters of the East African Community.

The coordinates of Musoma municipal are: 1°30'0.00"S, 33°48'0.00"E (Latitude:-1.5000; Longitude: 33.800.

The Musoma municipal council is bounded by Lake Victoria in the north; east there is Lake Victoria again, Musoma and Butiama District Councils, south there is Musoma and Butiama District Councils while west Musoma municipal council is bounded by Lake Victoria and Musoma District Council.

3.0 Climate

Musoma Municipal area experiences a tropical type of climate with temperature ranging from 24ºC to 32ºC. High temperature are recorded in the months of September, October and November when the mean maximum temperatures reach up to 31.6ºC. On the other hand minimum temperatures are experienced in the months of June, July and August when temperatures go down about 15.00 º C averages. Rainfall pattern is bi-modal which ranges from 900-1200mm per annum. The short rainfall season starts from October to December while the long rains are from March to June.

4.0 Ethnic Groups

Musoma Municipal Council is one of the fast growing towns in Tanzania experiencing fast population growth by both natural increase and migration. As a result, there are varieties of ethnic groups living in the municipality. The major ethnic groups are Kwaya, Jita, Kurya, Kara, Zanaki and Luo, though there are other minority ethnic groups such as Ruli, Kiroba, Simbiti and other Asians who speak their native languages along with Swahili.

5.0 Population Size and Growth                                                         

According to the 2002 and 2012 Population Censuses reports, the population of Musoma Municipality increased from 107,855 (51,607 male and 56,248 female) in 2002 and reached 134,327 (62,694 male and 71,633 female) in 2012 with a population change of 24.5 percent. Based on population growth rate of 2.1% per annum, Musoma Municipality’s population is approximately to reach 149,498 (Male 69,775 and Female 79,723) by December, 2016.

6.0 Economic Activities

Diversifications of the economy of Musoma Municipal Council were also evidenced by variations of main occupation which person spent most of his/her working time in the process of the production of goods and services. The 2012 Population and Housing Census show that farming was the main occupation in Musoma Municipal Council, employing 26.0 percent of residents aged 10 years and above. It was followed by crafts and related workers (11.6 percent), service workers shop and stall sales workers (10.1 percent), elementary occupations (9.2 percent) technicians and associate professionals, clerks (7.2 percent), other not specified (6.9 percent). Professionals (4.1 percent), Plant machine operators and assemblers including drivers employed (3.0 percent), fishermen (2.7 percent), legislators, administrators and managers (2.6 percent) and small business managers (2.5 percent), clerks (2.0 percent) while other common occupations employed less than one percent.