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Historical Background

Musoma Town was started in the late 19th century by the Germans as a fortification point. The name Musoma is derived from a local dialect meaning promontory or a peninsula. During the German era, Musoma played a vital role as a military post. Later the town assumed administrative and service centre roles. German colonial domination of Tanganyika ended after World War I when control of most of the territory passed to the United Kingdom under a League of Nations mandate. Added to it was the west coast of Lake Victoria, which had previously been part of the German colonies of Rwanda and Burundi.

After World War II, Tanganyika became a UN trust territory under British control. Subsequent years witnessed Tanganyika moving gradually toward self-government and independence. Musoma retained its role as an administrative and service centre. After independence in 1961 Musoma was declared the regional headquarters of the newly formed Mara Region.

Vision
Musoma Town Council's vision is to be promoted to a Municipal council status and to be one of tourist attraction centers along the Lake Victoria shore.

Musoma CDS Process
The Musoma City Development Strategies is part of the Lake Victoria Region City Development Strategies (CDS) Slum Upgrading for Improved Urban Environment and Poverty Reduction. The initiative aims at addressing the absence of effective planning in cities around Lake Victoria that has a negative impact on the lake. The three Pioneer cities Musoma, Kisumu and Kampala have prepared Action Plans towards the development of the strategies.

Musoma has identified the following challenges as major impediments in realizing sustainable city development.

• Decline of the town economy.
• Inability of the council to meet the growing budget for service delivery.
• Need to institutionalize stakeholder participation in the development plan.
• Need to improve the livelihood of people

The Musoma CDs process started in 2002 by selling a strategy document to SIDA officials.The process kicked off in 2003 as part of the Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP) in Tanzania. Community sensitization seminars were conducted, and data and public opinions on council service delivery collected.The data analysis resulted in prioritization of problems/issues and formulation of a vision.

Musoma town council is determined to be accountable in order to raise living standards of residents by provision of quality services by using its own resources efficiently and providing good governance. The mission leads to community participation aimed at improving the standard of living. Gender balance is a key component of the Musoma CDS as is environmental conservation, effective and efficient resource management in service delivery, transparency and accountability.

At a workshop held in Kisumu in March 2002, Musoma Council presented a situation analysis and challenges faced by Musoma Town Council. The strategic aims of the Musoma CDS are to improve urban environment, improve urban infrastructure services, promote urban economic growth, urban planning management, community participation, maximize revenue, and a HIV/AIDS program.

Action Plans Implemented in Musoma

1. One cesspit emptier purchased
2. New dumping site identified at Buhare
3. Kitaji Pond rehabilitation proposal sold to donors.
4. Spill way constructed by council but not yet completed.
5. 142.6 kilometers of roads have been maintained and 25 kilometers new roads constructed
6. 500 meters of new storm water drains constructed.
7. French company contracted to rehabilitate the existing water network and expand network
8. Construction of Rwamlimi water reservoir tank underway
9. Promotion of investors
10. Over 6 million loans was given to youth and women groups by the council and encouraged NGO's to provide soft loans to needy residents.
11. Sensitized fisherman on effect of illegal fishing.
12. Fish landing sites identified.
13. Town cadastral maps have been updated.
14. Kiara, Buhare, Bweri and Makoko secondary school constructed by the council, community and Musoma stakeholders.
15. Full Council meetings are open to the public for more transparency.
16. HIV/AIDS awareness creation campaigns conducted in all 13 wards.
17. An information centre office established at the Town Hall.
18. Musoma website is in the pipeline, and internet service is now available in town with 3 internet café and 1 Internet Service Provider (ISP)