Morogoro’s continued existence stems from its location on a major crossroads whose importance dates from before the arrival of the Arabs. Nineteenth century Tanganyika was in a state of considerable chaos, allowing wily local leaders to carve out empires for themselves.  The most unusual of these was not a tribal chief like Mirambo or Mkwawa, but Kisabengo, the leader of a group of fugitive slaves, who acquired power and eventually land through force of arms and the kidnapping of neighboring tribespeople.  Kisabengo’s domain, although small, included part of the major caravan route from the coast to the Great Lakes region. His capital, a settlement near modern day Morogoro which he modestly called Simbamwenni (the “Lion King”) inevitably became an important base for traders.  When Stanley passed through in 1871, en route to his historic encounter with Livingstone, he found a “walled town at the western foot of the Uruguru mountains, with its fine valley abundantly beautiful, watered by two rivers, and several pellucid streams of water distilled by the dew and cloud enriched heights around.”  Estimating the population at up to five thousand people, Stanley was most impressed by the town’s solid stone fortifications and towers.

The Germans transformed Morogoro into a military base, using it as an infamous “hanging ground” during their military conquest of Tanganyika and subsequent repression of the Abushiri and Maji Maji rebellions.  After Independence, Morogoro became famous, in South Africa at least, as a major base for the African National Congress, whose fighters were trained in the Uluguru Mountains.