Small lakes such as the Ikimba, Burigi, Rushwa, and Rwakajunju provide fishing opportunities for residents of the Karagwe District.

Like many other Great Lakes kingdoms, the Karagwe people, known as Abanyambo, claim inheritance from the ancient Kitara empire, ruled by a dynasty known as the Bachwezi.

The area has strong linguistic and historical ties to the Bugandan states to the north and to central African symbolic forms.

[3] Near the end of the 18th century, Karagwe's prosperity became well known and traders came to barter salt, pepper, oranges, copper, and millet for local goods.

Around 1900, commercial coffee growing was introduced by the Germans, which was further developed under British rule.

During the late 1990s, 165,000 refugees from Rwanda were divided over five camps in the Karagwe District.