Small shops around the bus station

Musoma is a city located in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of Mara Region. It has a population of 103,497 (2002 census). Musoma sits on the eastern edge of Lake Victoria not far from the Kenyan border. There are boats that take you across Lake Victoria from Musoma.

Geography

The lake at Musoma

The town is sited in a heavily indented bay. The Mara River is flowing in nearby Kirumi into the Lake Victoria.

People

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 and the Serengeti to the Kenya border. Now in Musoma are 6 Maryknoll priests and brothers (just 20% of their numbers in the 1970’s) in apostolates that will soon be in the hands of Tanzanians.

Musoma is home to the Wajita people, the Luo, the Zanaki and the Kuria, amongst others; there are more than 12 ethnic groups altogether. The industries in this region are cotton and fish (Nile perch).

Politician and ambassador Paul Bomani was born in Musoma in 1925.

See also

• Railway stations in Tanzania
• Musoma Airport

Coordinates: 1°30′S 33°48′E / 1.5°S 33.8°E / -1.5; 33.8