Why visit Bukoba
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 44 places to eat and 33 places to stay in and around town.
Weather in Bukoba
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Bukoba
Bukoba () is a town with a population of 144,938 (2022 census), situated in the northwest of Tanzania on the south-western shores of Lake Victoria. It is the capital of the Kagera region, and the administrative seat for Bukoba Urban District, and is home to Kaitaba Stadium
From the Wikipedia article Bukoba (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Bukoba on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Museums and landmarks3
Restaurants and cafes44
Kaffeehaus -Bukoba Formaly ( Trs Restaurant & Health Club)
Restaurant · African, American, Chicken, Coffee Shop
Uganda Road
Su,Tu-Sa 09:00-18:00; Mo 09:00-18:00
Bukoba Kolping Restaurant
Restaurant · Regional, Pizza, Indian, Sandwich · 1.9 km
32 more on the map.
Where to stay33
21 more on the map.
Churches and places of worship13
1 more on the map.
History
The town of Bukoba was founded in 1890 by Emin Pasha as the first German military station on Lake Victoria. The town was founded in the territory of the Lesser Kyamutwara kingdom. Its King, Mukotani, was hospitable to the Germans and directed them against his rivals: Kayoza of Bugabo and Mutatembwa of Kiziba. After Emin raided Bugabo, Kayoza agreed to send support for the station's construction. Following unrest in neighbouring Uganda, the town received fleeing Catholic missionaries on February 1892. The town was developed into a port through which grain, hides, and ivory passed. Riots broke out during the 1905–1907 Maji Maji Rebellion; they were quickly suppressed. As part of a series punitive reprisals, King Ntare of the Karagwe Kingdom was hanged on a tree in Bukoba. The Germans constructed a 54 m2 (65 yd2) fort in 1901. By 1914, Bukoba hosted one of three transmission stations in German East Africa, alongside Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. During the East African campaign in World War I, the town was sacked by the British on 2 June 1915. The British launched another raid on 21–23 June, launching attacks from Kisumu. Pillaging and rape were reported to be widespread, and the town was left abandoned after the attacks. After the war, German East Africa was transferred to British control in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference.
Read more of the history
In the initial actions of the Uganda–Tanzania War, Bukoba was bombed by Ugandan MiG aircraft on 18 October 1978, spreading panic but causing little destruction. Another bombing was attempted on 27 October; most bombs landed in forests or Lake Victoria, but one narrowly missed Bukoba's hospital. Civilians began to flee the town, and by the following morning Bukoba was mostly abandoned.
On 10 September 2016, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck east-northeast of Bukoba. Shaking of an estimated MMI IV intensity was felt, and the earthquake destroyed 840 houses and seriously damaged a further 1,264 in the town. At least 19 people were killed and 253 were injured.
From the History section of Bukoba on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Bukoba
Geography
Situated on the south-western shores of Lake Victoria, Bukoba lies only 1 degree south of the Equator.
Bukoba is situated on the south-western shores of Lake Victoria in the north-western region of Tanzania bordering Uganda. The regional capital and Kagera's biggest town is the gateway to the region.
It boasts a white sandy beach, a large market, a port tennis courts and a swimming pool. It has 13 banks, 5 of which take VISA cards in the ATM.
Bukoba Town itself has the status of a municipal Council. It has a municipal Director and other local government officials like other district councils in the region.
Bukoba has an upland tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Amb, because every month has a normal mean temperature of between 18 °C and 22 °C) although it is milder than most climates with that classification due to its altitude. It can sometimes get cool especially in the evenings during the two rainy seasons, but never as cold as the winter season in Europe.
Economy
Kagera's Regional Commissioner resides and has his head office in The Bukoba Central Business District.
Bukoba is the leading district in Tanzania with a high percentage of people with middle-class incomes. The percentage of people living under the poverty line is the lowest in the country. Bukoba has a new mall named Bakwata Complex that will start operation in September 2024.
The town is flat, compact, and surrounded by hills. The town has a bus stand, an airport, and a port. A ferry used to travel from Bukoba via Kemondo Bay Port to Mwanza on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, and soon a newly built ship, the second largest lake ship in Africa, will make ferry voyages to Bukoba daily.
From the Wikipedia article Bukoba, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Bukoba
- Protase RugambwaTanzanian cardinal and bishop
- Novatus RugambwaTanzanian Roman Catholic prelate of the Catholic Church
- Wendy FraserBritish Field hockey player
- Verdiana MasanjaTanzanian mathematician
- Joseph RwegasiraTanzanian politician (1935-2016)
- Jovitus Francis MwijageTanzanian Roman Catholic bishop
- Justinian RweyemamuTanzanian academic
- Claver KamanyaTanzanian sprinter
- Suleiman KassimNigerian politician
- Josiah KibiraLutheran Bishop, President of Lutheran World Federation (1925–1988)
- Vedastus Kyalakishaija KyaruziTanzanian diplomat and politician
Born in Bukoba, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries26
Healthcare17
Map of Bukoba
146 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Bukoba Airport (BKZ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 km away.
- Katerero 12 km southwest, about 12 min by car
- Katoro 35 km west, about 35 min by car
- Kamachumu 38 km southwest, about 38 min by car
- Kassambya 43 km west, about 43 min by car
- Kyaka 44 km west, about 44 min by car
- Nsunga 51 km northwest, about 51 min by car
- Mutukula 57 km northwest, about 57 min by car
- Nshamba 59 km southwest, about 59 min by car
- Muleba 59 km south, about 59 min by car
- Nyakahanga 80 km west, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bukoba, Andrewcoe22 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Bukoba View, Anders S, Public domain
- Bukoba beach, Bugsinmyfood, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mater Misericordiae Church - Bukoba, Macabe5387, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.