Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba today, February 22, 2026, laid the foundation stone for a new student hostel project at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru Campus in Arusha.
The project, funded through the Government’s development budget, is expected to significantly ease accommodation challenges for students.
The initiative will expand the university’s hostel capacity from 600 to 1,000 beds, providing modern living spaces that meet the growing demand from students across Tanzania.
The construction will be implemented in three phases, with each phase comprising a new hostel building.
The project also includes specially designed rooms for female students with children and those with special needs, reflecting the university’s commitment to inclusive and supportive student housing.
The first phase of construction has a budget of TZS 6.10 billion. So far, TZS 4.74 billion has been utilized, bringing the project to approximately 80 percent completion.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Nchemba emphasized the government’s dedication to improving student welfare, saying the hostels would not only provide safe accommodation but also foster an environment conducive to learning and innovation.
The new hostels are part of broader government efforts to enhance higher education infrastructure and support Tanzania’s growing population of university students.