Bukombe DC is one of six district councils that make up the Geita region in the north-western Tanzania. The name Bukombe came from the native language, meaning “feeding cup”. According to the Tanzania census of 2022, the district has an estimated population of 266,667 people. The majority of the population depends on small-scale farming, artisanal mining, and livestock keeping for their livelihood. 60% of the Bukombe land has been designated as a forest reserve, leaving about 40% of the remaining land for human activities.
The younger population in the council is at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases due to transactional sex fueled by interactions and influx of people coming for small-scale mining activities. Presence of transportation corridor due to the major trunk road, crossing the district for over 150km, that connects the district with Kagera, Kigoma, Shinyanga regions, and neighboring countries of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda is another factor precipitating HIV transmission especially to young girls and women.