Bumbire Island

Location: Off Kagera Region, Tanzania, ~15 km from the mainland near Bukoba, forming part of a 28 km archipelago including Iroba and Nyabura Islands

Topography: Rises around 120 m above the lake, with patches of mature trees and flat terrain
Population: Community of ~15,895 residents (2022), living across several hamlets and dependent on fishing and subsistence farming

Fishing-Centric: Home to numerous informal camps where fishermen (mostly men) dry small fish like dagaa and catch tilapia/Nile perch

Economics & Challenges: Poverty evident—many families struggle, with children facing undernutrition (stunting ~30%

Access: Reached via public boats—delays common but boat rides are scenic. Landing zones are busy with fishing activities and village life

Local Experience: Visitors may witness fish drying, boat-building, community church life including lively local discos, and missionary-run facilities .

Culture & Daily Life: The islanders exhibit deep community ties—church services, local governance, gender dynamics, and educational efforts shape everyday life .