Morogoro, Tanzania

🇹🇿 Morogoro is a city in the eastern part of Tanzania, 196 km (122 mi) west of Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city and commercial centre, and 260 km (160 mi) east of Dodoma, the country's capital city. Morogoro is the capital of the Morogoro Region. It is also known informally as "Mji kasoro bahari", which translates as "city short of an ocean/port".

Morogoro lies at the base of the Uluguru Mountains and is a centre of agriculture in the region. The Sokoine University of Agriculture is based in the city. A number of missions are also located in the city, providing schools and hospitals. Morogoro is home to the Amani Centre, which has helped over 3,400 disabled people in the surrounding villages.

Water supply The Mindu Dam on the Ngerengere River serves as the primary source of water in Morogoro, supplying approximately 80% of the city's water needs. However, the dam project, initiated in 1978, has been the subject of controversy. The formation of a lake behind the dam has resulted in high rates of bilharzia infection, and the city's water supply has been polluted by mercury runoff from nearby gold mining activities. Deforestation in the surrounding areas has also contributed to the rapid siltation of the dam.

To address these issues, a program funded by USAID/MCC with a budget of $8.31 million was implemented in 2012–13. The program aimed to rehabilitate drinking water resources from the Uluguru Mountains by establishing an inlet and treatment plant near the Regional Governance offices at the upper end of Boma Road, benefiting the Morogoro Water Supply Authority (MORUWASA).

Geography The city is situated at the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains and serves as a significant agricultural centre in the region.

Morogoro is the site of many Sisal plantations.

Education Morogoro is home to several notable universities and colleges, including Sokoine University of Agriculture, Muslim University of Morogoro, St. Joseph University College, and Jordan University College. Mzumbe University is located approximately 26 km south of the town along the Iringa Highway. The municipality also houses renowned institutions such as Ardhi Institute Morogoro, Morogoro Teachers College, and LITI (Livestock Training Institute).

Among the secondary schools in the area is Kilakala Girls High School, which is one of the oldest secondary schools in the country (previously known as Marian College). Morogoro Secondary School (formerly Aga Khan Secondary School), Forest Hill Secondary, Jabal Hira Muslim Secondary, Kigurunyembe Secondary, Lutheran Junior Seminary, St. Francis de Sales Seminary, St. Peter's Seminary, Lupanga Practising Secondary School (a recently established school near Kigurunyembe Teacher's College), and Kola Hill Secondary School are also located within the municipality. Additionally, the Morogoro International School, an English-language institution, was founded in 1975.

Transport Transportation options within the town of Morogoro include public transport buses known as dala dala, which provide services for commuting within the area. The fares for these buses are typically around Tsh. 400 for travel from the town to nearby locations. For faster transportation within town areas, motorcycles known as boda boda and Bajaj vehicles are commonly used. The fares for these modes of transportation vary depending on the distance to the destination.

Sports and culture In the Tanzanian Premier League, the football club Mtibwa Sugar F.C. represents the city of Morogoro.

Morogoro is notable for being the hometown of Salim Abdullah, the founder of the Cuban Marimba Band, as well as the Morogoro Jazz Band, which was established in 1944. During the period from the mid-1960s to the 1970s, Morogoro was the residence of Mbaraka Mwinshehe, a highly influential and celebrated musician in Tanzania known for his skills as a lead guitarist and singer-songwriter.