Mwanza Region (Mkoa wa Mwanza in Swahili) is one of Tanzania’s 31 administrative regions, covering a total land area of 25,233 km2 (9,743 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of North Macedonia.
Mwanza Region is bordered to the north through Lake Victoria by the Kagera Region and Mara Region, to the east by Simiyu Region, to the south by the Shinyanga Region and to the west by Geita Region. The regional capital is the city of Mwanza.
According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 3,699,872 and national census of 2012 had 2,772,509. Mwanza Region is the second region with high population in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam Region.
According to oral history, around c.1500 a group of 250 Bantu people, from the shores north of modern Geita, looking for a new home. The group was led by the son of the king of the Lushamba Kingdom.
When reaching what is near – and east of – today’s Mwanza City, the son called out, “nye-nsukumale-aha”, meaning “I, a Sukuma am here”. It is from this phrase, and camp that the name Usukuma, (Sukumaland), and modern Mwanza is from.
From the 1500s the region, as well as many of the surrounding regions, would be part of the Sukuma kingdoms rather than villages, and for much of that time ruled from the area near modern-day city of Mwanza. Beginning from this time many people from very diverse backgrounds and tribes moved to Usukuma.
Mwanza Schools
- S1107 – Mwamashimba Secondary School
- S1664 – Mbarika Secondary School
- S1743 – Mwamala Secondary School
- S1749 – Mang’halanga Secondary School
- S1752 – Nyamatongo Secondary School
- S1775 – Buyagu Secondary School
- S1823 – Juvenary Buzinza Secondary School
- S1834 – Mantare Secondary School
- S1879 – Kalebezo Secondary School
- S1884 – Pius Msekwa Secondary School
- S2002 – Nyamtelela Secondary School
- S2007 – Kikubiji Secondary School
- S2047 – Busisi Secondary School
- S2087 – Isakamawe Secondary School
- S2116 – Ng’wamabanza Secondary School
- S2118 – Kongolo Secondary School
- S2321 – Igongwa Secondary School
- S2323 – Mhande Secondary School
- S2377 – Bungulwa Secondary School
- S2587 – Buhingo Secondary School
- S2589 – Idetemya Secondary School
- S2590 – Kasololo Secondary School
- S2591 – Ilujamate Secondary School
- S2593 – Mawematatu Secondary School
- S2594 – Mwaniko Secondary School
- S2595 – Shilalo Secondary School
- S2596 – Sumbugu Secondary School
- S2670 – Namagondo Secondary School
- S2725 – Premium Secondary School
- S2872 – Lwanhima Secondary School
- S2903 – Mwagi Secondary School
- S2904 – Ng’hundi Secondary School
- S2905 – Bupamwa Secondary School
- S2906 – Mwandu Secondary School
- S3049 – Igelegele Secondary School
- S3098 – Mwakilyambiti Secondary School
- S3152 – Lyoma Secondary School
- S3281 – Bupandwa Secondary School
- S3288 – Buzilasoga Secondary School
- S3289 – Lwenge Secondary School
- S3366 – Bukindo Secondary School
- S3367 – Irugwa Secondary School
- S3534 – Central Valley Secondary School
- S3583 – Mwabomba Secondary School
- S3584 – Ngula Secondary School
- S3639 – Bukanda Secondary School
- S3677 – Nyanchenche Secondary School
- S3859 – Jelly’s Secondary School
- S4008 – Lutale Secondary School
- S4049 – Green View Secondary School
- S4427 – Nyamazugo Secondary School
- S4572 – Ipwaga Secondary School
- S4590 – Nakatunguru Secondary School
- S4706 – Famgi Secondary School
- S4821 – Cresent Secondary School
- S4944 – Emara Highland Secondary School
- S4994 – Eden Valley Secondary School
- S5103 – Calfonia Hills Secondary School
- S5131 – Kameya Secondary School
- S5183 – Nyabumhanda Secondary School
- S0104 – Bwiru Boys Secondary School
- S0146 – Nyegezi Seminary
- S0173 – Nyamilama Secondary School
- S0185 – Sengerema Seminary
- S0195 – St. Caroli Secondary School
- S0226 – Kagunguli Secondary School
- S0231 – Sumve Girls Secondary School
- S0235 – Bukumbi Secondary School
- S0240 – St. Joseph Girls Seminary
- S0249 – Loreto Girls Secondary School
- S0323 – Lake Secondary School
- S0333 – Mwanza Secondary School
- S0456 – Kinango Secondary School
- S0539 – Magu Secondary School
- S0546 – Pamba Secondary School
- S0554 – Ngudu Secondary School
- S0564 – Buswelu Secondary School
- S0578 – Taqwa Secondary School
- S0579 – Katunguru Secondary School
- S0613 – Nyampulukano Secondary School
- S0623 – Kahunda Secondary School
- S0633 – Tallo Secondary School
- S0709 – Bukongo Secondary School
- S0756 – Murutunguru Secondary School
- S0761 – Bwisya Secondary School
- S0762 – Kome Secondary School
- S0770 – Sumve Secondary School
- S0817 – Paul Bomani Secondary School
- S0823 – Thaqaafa Secondary School
- S0974 – Nela Secondary School
- S1051 – Mkolani Secondary School
- S1074 – Kitangiri Secondary School
- S1099 – Nyehunge Secondary School
- S1103 – Busongo Secondary School
- S1115 – Bukandwe Secondary School
- S1128 – Imalilo Secondary School
- S1143 – Butimba Day Secondary School
- S1164 – Missungwi Secondary School
- S1194 – Bismarck Secondary School
- S1227 – Misasi Secondary School
- S1233 – Koromije Secondary School
- S1260 – Sima Secondary School
- S1419 – Bangwe Secondary School
- S1426 – Bujora Secondary School
- S1444 – Kabila Secondary School
- S1498 – Lugeye Secondary School
- S1536 – Ngoma Secondary School
- S1585 – Twitange Secondary School
- S1589 – Mwanza Baptist Secondary School
- S1608 – Ntunduru Secondary School
- S1609 – Rorya Secondary School
- S1622 – Kiseke Secondary School
- S1665 – Nyasaka Islamic Secondary School
- S1699 – Nyabulogoya Secondary School
- S1706 – Pasiansi Secondary School
- S1725 – Ole Njoolay Secondary School
- S1756 – Central Buhongwa Secondary School
- S1804 – Kilabela Secondary School
- S1820 – Hill Crest Secondary School
- S1835 – Mahina Secondary School
- S1841 – Kandawe Secondary School
- S1869 – Igogo Secondary School
- S1883 – Migukulama Secondary School
- S1891 – Mkuyuni Secondary School
- S1894 – Lubugu Secondary School
- S1910 – Igoma Secondary School
- S1911 – Kirumba Secondary School
- S1912 – Sangabuye Secondary School
- S1941 – Kakobe Secondary School
- S1986 – Igokelo Secondary School
- S2014 – Nh’unduru Secondary School
- S2015 – Sanjo Secondary School
- S2027 – Malya Secondary School
- S2048 – Lugata Secondary School
- S2049 – Iligamba Secondary School
- S2115 – Walla Secondary School
- S2209 – Kasungamile Secondary School
- S2243 – Itumbili Secondary School
- S2245 – Kitumba Secondary School
- S2268 – Lugongo Secondary School
- S2269 – Busangumugu Secondary School
- S2270 – Mukituntu Secondary School
- S2311 – Maligisu Secondary School
- S2324 – Mbugani Secondary School
- S2334 – Islamiya Secondary School
- S2425 – Sunrise Secondary School
- S2432 – New Hellen Secondary School
- S2508 – Iseni Secondary School
- S2529 – Bugogwa Secondary School
- S2530 – Nyamanoro Secondary School
- S2588 – Bulemeji Secondary School
- S2592 – Kanyelele Secondary School
- S2668 – Bwiro Secondary School
- S2669 – Muriti Secondary School
- S2783 – Bujashi Secondary School
- S2785 – Nyanguge Secondary School
- S2786 – Ng’haya Secondary School
- S2787 – Shishani Secondary School
- S2790 – Kahangara Secondary School
- S2791 – Mwamanga Secondary School
- S2792 – Sukuma Secondary School
- S2830 – Nyakaliro Secondary School
- S2867 – Bujingwa Secondary School
- S2869 – Muhandu Secondary School
- S2870 – Shibula Secondary School
- S2871 – Lukobe Secondary School
- S3031 – Mwinuko Secondary School
- S3032 – Kabuhoro Secondary School
- S3033 – Mnarani Secondary School
- S3034 – Mtoni Secondary School
- S3035 – Ibinza Secondary School
- S3036 – Luchelele Secondary School
- S3037 – Nyamagana Secondary School
- S3038 – Nyakurunduma Secondary School
- S3039 – Shamaliwa Secondary School
- S3040 – Mapango Secondary School
- S3041 – Nundu Secondary School
- S3042 – Kangaye Secondary School
- S3043 – Nyasaka Secondary School
- S3044 – Mlimani Secondary School
- S3045 – Ibungilo Secondary School
- S3046 – Mirongo Secondary School
- S3047 – Nyakabungo Secondary School
- S3048 – Kiloleli Secondary School
- S3153 – Bujiku Sakila Secondary School
- S3268 – Morning Star Secondary School
- S3277 – Mihama Secondary School
- S3278 – Buhongwa Secondary School
- S3279 – Bugarika Secondary School
- S3280 – Lumala Secondary School
- S3282 – Maisome Secondary School
- S3283 – Nyakasungwa Secondary School
- S3284 – Kafunzo Secondary School
- S3285 – Mwaliga Secondary School
- S3286 – Nyamahona Secondary School
- S3287 – Ngweli Secondary School
- S3363 – Nansio Secondary School
- S3364 – Mumbuga Secondary School
- S3368 – Igalla Secondary School
- S3369 – Nduruma Day Secondary School
- S3370 – Nakoza Secondary School
- S3506 – Kishinda Secondary School
- S3610 – Tabaruka Secondary School
- S3662 – Mibungo Secondary School
- S3934 – Yusta Secondary School
- S4062 – Tabasamu Secondary School
- S4064 – Capri-Point Secondary School
- S4097 – Buguza Secondary School
- S4131 – Nyanza Adventist Secondary School
- S4135 – Montessori Maria Secondary School
- S4342 – Kakerege Secondary School
- S4395 – St. Mary’s Mwanza Secondary School
- S4400 – Ilemela Secondary School
- S4408 – Kassa Charity Secondary School
- S4428 – Mwabaluhi Secondary School
- S4429 – Lusikwi Secondary School
- S4430 – Lushamba Secondary School
- S4431 – Katwe Secondary School
- S4432 – Bitoto Secondary School
- S4445 – Sengerema Islamic Secondary School
- S4486 – Malimbe Secondary School
- S4504 – Eden Secondary School
- S4561 – Nyashishi Secondary School
- S4575 – Messa Secondary School
- S4607 – Itabulya Secondary School
- S4630 – Lubili Secondary School
- S4645 – Alliance Boys’ Secondary School
- S4741 – Diplomat Secondary School
- S4811 – Bidii Secondary School
- S4836 – Alliance Girls Secondary School
- S4856 – Twihulumile Secondary School
- S4932 – Buhongwa Islamic Secondary School
- S4993 – Rodan Secondary School
The Mwanza Region is home to the Basukuma, who are the largest and one of the oldest tribes in Tanzania and the Great Lakes. Prior to German colonization Sukuma had wealth from their large herds of cattle, good soil, and trade of gold, and ivory using the central corridor of Tabora.
In 1857, British explorers, Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke mention “Muanza” as a settlement in 1858 and confirm the presence of the Basukuma on the Lake shore and at the island of Ukerewe. During the period the Germans established the port of Mwanza, in 1892, in order to govern the conquered Usukuma.
The area governed by Mwanza was referred to by the colonizers as the Lake Zone and included the portions of Lake Victoria from Mara in the east to Kagera in the West, and as far south as Tabora and Kigoma, on Lake Tanganyika. This mostly continued with only little change after the British took over governance after World War I.
Colonial rule from Mwanza was limited comparatively to the rest of Tanzania and East Africa. Two main reasons for this is the Basukuma have never had a warrior culture and colonial governors had a large misunderstanding of how Sukuma governed.
That Usukuma as a whole had a very large population and no warrior culture meant that less effort was required to govern such a large population. This led to colonial governors using and allowing local chiefs to rule rather than involve themselves, not understanding that political power was held by the councils of elders who appointed and dismissed the chiefs.
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