The Government has continued to strengthen youth economic empowerment by disbursing startup capital to 47 beneficiaries under the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT–fisheries) programme in Kagera Region, as part of ongoing efforts to address youth unemployment and promote investment in the fisheries sector.
The beneficiaries received soft loans and fisheries inputs during a handover ceremony held on May 9, 2026, at Bilolo Kemondo landing site in Bukoba District.
Speaking at the event, Bukoba District Commissioner Erasto Sima, who represented the Kagera Regional Commissioner, said the government will continue to expand economic opportunities for young people through the fisheries sector, which remains one of the key areas for job creation and income generation.
He said the BBT–Uvuvi initiative is designed to combine practical training with access to capital, enabling young people to become self-employed and future investors in aquaculture.
“This programme is aimed at equipping youth with practical skills and startup capital so that they can actively participate in fish farming and become job creators rather than job seekers,” he said.
He added that the Kagera rollout follows earlier implementation of the programme launched on March 7, 2026, at FETA Nyegezi in Mwanza Region, where 55 youth benefited from aquaculture inputs, particularly for cage fish farming.
Sima urged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity responsibly by observing discipline, integrity, and proper financial management to ensure their projects succeed and contribute to both personal and national development.
Representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Imelda Adam, who is also the Deputy Director for Research and Training, said the programme reflects the Sixth Phase Government’s commitment under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to empower youth through productive economic activities.
She said the government is deliberately investing in fisheries and aquaculture as strategic sectors capable of creating sustainable employment and improving livelihoods, especially among young people.
According to her, the initiative is part of a broader national agenda to build youth capacity through skills development, access to resources, and modern production technologies.
“The government is committed to ensuring that young people are fully integrated into the productive sectors of the economy, particularly fisheries and aquaculture, which have high potential for growth and income generation,” she said.
On his part, the representative of the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), Merisia Mparazo, said the agency is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the BBT–fisheries programme in the Lake Zone.
She said the programme focuses on promoting cage fish farming, a modern aquaculture system that has proven to be efficient and commercially viable.
She noted that Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA) is responsible for coordinating youth selection, providing technical training, and supplying quality fish fingerlings, farming equipment, and feed to ensure successful production.
She added that the agency is also ensuring proper monitoring and technical support to guarantee that youth-led projects are productive and sustainable.
The programme, Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) initiative, is a national youth empowerment framework aimed at transforming young people into active participants in the economy through training, financing, and access to modern production technologies.
Officials at the event noted that fisheries remain one of the fastest-growing sectors in Tanzania, particularly in regions around Lake Victoria, where aquaculture has continued to expand due to rising demand for fish and related products.
They emphasized that youth engagement in fisheries contributes significantly to employment creation, food security, and the government’s broader industrialization agenda.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government, saying the support will enable them to start and expand fish farming projects, particularly cage aquaculture, which requires initial investment but offers strong economic returns.
They pledged to use the funds responsibly and work closely with experts to ensure the success of their enterprises.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up the programme nationwide to reach more young people and strengthen their participation in productive economic activities.
It further stressed that the success of the BBT–fisheries initiative depends on discipline, proper supervision, and adherence to modern aquaculture practices to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
