LUSHOTO DISTRICT

ABOUT LUSHOTO DISTRICT

Lushoto District is situated in the northern part of Tanga Region it lies within 4o 25’ – 4o 55’ latitude south of Equator and 30o 10’ – 38o 35’ Longitude East of Greenwich. The District has an area of 3,500 km2 and accounts for about 12.8% of Tanga Region. It borders with Korogwe District in the south and Mkinga District further east, Same District of Kilimanjaro Region in the northwest, and Republic
of Kenya in the northeast. The population of Lushoto is 492,441 according to the 2012 Population and Housing Census.

ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Lushoto was formerly known as Wilhelmstal (William's Valley) and was named after Emperor Wilhelm II. During the German colonial period from the 1890s to 1918 the area was popular with settlers, hence the German place name of Wilhelmstal. Large farms and plantations were created, and the district was valued for its pleasant mountain climate. Numerous Church missions were, and remain, active.

Between 1893 and 1911 the German Ostafrikanische Eisenbahngesellschaft (East African Railway Cooperation), constructed an important railway line starting at Tanga on the coast and passing along the Usambara Mountains with a station established at Mombo, about 20 kilometers (12mi) from Wilhelmstal, to "New" Moshi atKilimanjaro. The initial plan of the Usambarabahn was to connect the port of Tanga with Lake Victoria by passing south of the Usambara Mountains. This was in direct competition with parallel British efforts in colonial Kenya. From 4 June 1912 to 12 May 1913 the line was renamed Nordbahn (Northern Railway) for a short period.

The highlands cover about 75% (2625 km2) of the total District area, with altitude of 1000 – 2100m above sea level. The lowlands cover about 25% (875km2) of the total District area between altitudes of 300 – 600m above sea level. The Mountains and their lower slopes occupy about 90% of the total land of Lushoto district. The slopes are moderately steep to very steep and there are many narrow valleys as well as rock outcrop in the terrain.

NUMBER OF ITS WARDS

The Lushoto District is administratively divided into 32 wards: Bagha, Bumbui, Funa, Gae, Hemtoye, Kwai, Lunguza, Lushoto (town), Malibwi, Malindi, Makanya, Mamba, Mayo, Mbaramo, Mbuzii, Mgwashi, Mlalo, Mlingano, Mlola, Mnazi , Mng'aro, Mponde, Mtae, Mwangoi, Ngwelo, Rangwi, Shume, Soni, Sunga, Tamota, Ubili, Vugha and Kannada.