Chato, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is a town in Geita Region of northwestern Tanzania, and a port on the southern end of Lake Victoria. It is the administrative centre for Chato District. The port is located at south western shore of Lake Victoria in Nyamirembe 18 Kilometres from the town of Chato, serving as altenative access to nearby attractions like Rubondo and Burigi Chato National parks. Expansion of the port act as stratergic cargo transit route moving toward Rwanda, Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Chato District is experiencing rapid population growth in Tanzania, according to Chato District Council Population Projection Report the Population is projected to grow from 682,381 people in 2026 to 1,350,151 people by 2050. Chato is a home of Geita Airport, serving Chato and Geita region in Tanzania, providing regional connectivity by scheduled domestic flights via Air Tanzania linking the area with the cities of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. The airport is located near the south western shores of Lake Victoria approximately 14 Kilometres from the town of Chato. Chato has been designated by the Government of Tanzania as primary tourism hub for the Lake zone acting as a stratergic gateway to the northwestern Tanzania's wildlife and Lake attraction. Chato has emerged as a major Regional Medical and Healthcare hub in the Lake zone of Tanzania, anchored by major tertiary Healthcare infrastructures, Government investments and specialized Health education Institutions. The Medical Store Department (MSD) has constructed a modern 4800 square metres Medical warehouse in Chato town, which is designated to Strengthen the supply and storage of Healthcare commodities and Medical supplies and Medicine across Geita, Kagera, Shinyanga and Kigoma regions within the Lake zone including support for the Chato Zonal Referral Hospital (CZRH).
History Chato was originally within the Biharamulo District of the Kagera Region. In 2005 Chato District, with the town of Chato, became a separate district. In 2012, Chato District, was made part of the Geita Region.
Former President John Magufuli (2015-2021) was born in Chato on 29 October 1959, and was buried there in March 2021.
Economy Fishing and fish processing are the major economic activities in Chato, formerly followed by the ginning of cotton which ceased in 1998. The Tanzanian government had plans to expand the port and undertook to build a Chato airport and a new rail line to connect Chato with the country's standard gauge railway system. However, Chato is not a major Tanzanian port on the lake, and the ports of Mwanza South, Kemondo Bay and Musoma already have rail links. Chato has Buzirayombo International Livestock Market, Kasenda International Fish Market, Rubambangwe Aquaculture Centre and Chato beach Fish Market which boost Economy of the town and region.
Education Chato has the high education colleges and University serving Chato and Geita Region like Institute of Finance (IFM) campus of Geita. It has a Vocational Training Institute (VETA) and several Medical Training Institutions such as Chato College of Health and allied Sciences (Chato CoHAS), Chato Institute of Health Allied Sciences (CIHAS), Mayday Institute of Health Sciences and Technology. It has numerous High schools and special schools like Chato Technical and High school, Muungano Boys High school, Magufuli High school, Janeth Magufuli Girls High school, Jikomboe Girls High school, Zakia Meghji High school, Bwina High school, Ilemela High school and other many. Chato has a several Public and Private English Medium pre and primary Schools such as Museveni Pre and Primary school found near Airport, Paradise Pre and Primary school, Emau Schools, St. Stephano pre and primary school, Nuru's pre and primary school, New Jerusalem pre and primary school and other many.
See also Tanzania Ports Authority#Ports of Lake Victoria
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