Bungoma is a town in Western Province of Kenya, bordered by Uganda in the west. Bungoma town was established as a trading centre in the early 20th century. The town is the headquarters of Kenya's Bungoma district.
The economy of Bungoma district is mainly agricultural, centering on the sugar cane and maize industries. The area experiences high rainfall throughout the year, and is home to several large rivers - which are used for small-scale irrigation.
Being in a region that practices wife inheritance, Bungoma has seen a large growth of reported HIV/AIDS cases in the last 10 years. The area is also the epicentre of the Bukusu circumcision rites, which occur every even year, in August and December.