[7] [8]: 1 [4]: 9 The district lies in the west of the Shinyanga Region to the south and east of Kahama Town.

[1][9]: 12 Wards (2016 population)[5]: 131 In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 296,515 people in the district, from 273,075 in 2012.

People of the district are of the tribes of Wasukuma, Wasumbwa, and Wanyamwezi with small populations of Waha, and Wahangaza.

[4]: 11 The Ushetu District has 2,149 square kilometres (830 sq mi) of agricultural land, which predominantly used to grow maize, cotton and rice.

There is 1,044.4 km2 (403.2 sq mi) of grazing land that is used mostly by cattle and goats, as well as a small number of sheep.