Kigamboni District, officially known as The Kigamboni Municipal Council (Halimashauri ya Manispaa ya Kigamboni, in Swahili) is one of five districts of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. The district is bordered to the north by Ilala District, to the east by the Indian Ocean, the west by Temeke District, and to the south by the Mkuranga District of Pwani Region. It covers an area of , making it the largest district the region by area. The district is comparable in size to the land area of Micronesia. The administrative seat is Somangila. The district is home to the headquarters of the Tanzanian Navy, The Kigamboni Naval Base. Also the district is home to the prestigious Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy. In addition the district is one of two districts in Dar es Salaam that has a National Historic Site, with Kigamboni hosting the most, namely the Kimbiji Ruins, Mbutu Bandarini and Mbuamaji historic sites. The 2012 National Tanzania Census states the population for Kigamboni as 162,932.
Administration
Kigamboni Municipal Council is divided into three sections on an administrative level. Additionally, these divisions are subdivided into 67 subwards (referred to as "Mitaa") by 9 wards. There are 15 councilors in the municipal council, and two of them are lawmakers.
Tungi
Vijibweni
Kimbiji
Kisarawe II
Kigamboni, Kigamboni District
Mjimwema
Kibada
Somangila
Pembamnazi
History
The Zaramo initially colonised the area that is now Kigamboni. Later, they were influenced and some of them settled in Swahili communities in settlements like Mbuamaji, Kimbiji, Old Mjimwema, and Mbutu Bandarini all located in the district. In 2015 the Temeke Municipal Council was divided into Temeke Municipal Council and Kigamboni Municipal Council in order to create Kigamboni Municipal Council. The council was established in 2015 and instructed to begin operations in April 2016 by the Government Notes (GN) Number 512 of the 6th of November, 2015. The establishment was carried out in accordance with Sections 8 and 9 of the 1982 Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act No. 8.
Geography
Kigamboni Municipal Council covers an area of 577.86 km2, or 57,786.8 hectares, and has a 65 km long coastline. It is one of Dar es Salaam City's biggest municipal councils. With a height of 20 to 50 meters above sea level and a large portion of flat land, Kigamboni Municipal Council is made up of swampy areas in the center and close by shorelines. When compared to other wards, Pembamnazi Ward has the largest land area with 209 km squared, while Kigamboni Ward has the smallest at 4 km squared.
Geology
Geological formations from the Neogene, Quaternary, and Recent deposits cover Kigamboni. The Neogene deposits are composed of pure sand, clay, and limestone in some areas and sandy clay and clayey sand in others. Most of the soil is sandy clay interspersed with worn limestone. However, the geology beneath appears to be characterized by calcareous sand and sandy clay intercalated with limestone, according to drill data currently available.
Climate
Kigamboni's climate is tropical, with high temperatures, light breezes, high humidity, and no distinct cold season. Kigamboni District experiences temperatures that range from 18 °C in July to 32 °C in February. With a mean daily range of only 4 °C, the average yearly temperature is 26 °C. The mean seasonal range is only about 4 °C, with only minor seasonal variations.
The average daily maximum humidity in Kigamboni is 96 percent at dawn, while the average daily low humidity is 67 percent in the afternoons. Between March and May, there is substantial rainfall in the municipality, while there is moderate rainfall from November through December. However, rainfall patterns are incredibly erratic and varied. The temperature fluctuates between 18 °C and 32 °C, and there is over 1000 mm of annual rainfall. Prior to the start of the rainy season, in September/October and January/February, respectively, the temperatures reach their highest points. The majority of the year, the winds are from the east to the west, and the rains typically stop in early June.