Location & Coverage


Karagwe District in northwestern Tanzania covers around 5,134 km², bordering Uganda and Rwanda via the Kagera River, with a varied landscape of hills (1,200–1,800 m elevation), swamps, valleys, and small lakes like Burigi and Rwakajunju.





? Administration & Governance


It operates under the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, led by the District Executive Director (DED).


The district is divided into 5 divisions—Bugene, Kituntu, Nyaishozi, Nyabiyonza, and Nyakakika—comprising 23 wards, 77 villages, and 629 hamlets.


Council structure includes a District Council with roughly 30 elected councillors, chaired (as of 2020) by Wallace Mashanda.


The Council maintains 13 departments and 6 units, coordinating service delivery across sectors including water, administration, education, and public works.





? Demographics


As per the 2022 census, the district’s population stands at approximately 385,744 people across around 93,366 households, showing steady growth from 332,020 in 2012.


Major ethnic groups include Nyambo (Banyambo), Haya, Sukuma, Hangaza, among others.





? Services & Infrastructure


Education: 117 primary schools (~5.1 per ward) and 19 secondary schools (as of 2015).


Health: 2 hospitals, 2 health centres, and 37 dispensaries (2015 data). District-wide access to mobile networks and radio, but limited electricity in remote areas.


Roads: 1,394 km total road network—mostly feeder roads (75%), plus district and regional roads .


Water & sanitation: Around 67% of rural households access clean water (managed by RUWASA); waste typically handled via septic pits or covered earth burial.





? Economy & Natural Resources


Agriculture dominates (coffee, bananas, beans), followed by livestock (cattle, goats, pigs), fishing (e.g., Lake Burigi), beekeeping (~9,954 modern hives by 2015), and tourism (Burigi‑Chato & Rumanyika‑Karagwe National Parks).


Tourism benefits from national parks established in 2019, including the 247 km² Rumanyika‑Karagwe Park.





?️ Historical & Cultural Context


The area is historically rooted in the pre-colonial Karagwe Kingdom (c. 1450–1963), with its capital at Bweranyange—now a National Historic Site.


The Kingdom reached its peak in the early 19th century under leaders like Kings Ndagara and Rumanyika Orugundu I.





? Council Contact Details


Postal Address: P.O. Box 20, Karagwe, Kagera, Tanzania


Phone/Fax: +255 (0)28 222 7140 / 222 7148


Email: ded@karagwedc.go.tz





? In Summary


Karagwe District Council oversees a diverse region—geographically, culturally, and economically.


It manages essential public services, infrastructure, and development initiatives across a network of administrative units.


Its evolving economy links agriculture, natural resource use, and growing tourism tied to national parks.