Relief as MV Butiama resumes Mwanza-Ukerewe service

MWANZA: MV Butiama Hapa Kazi tu has today, September 20, 2025,  resumed its  Mwanza-Ukerewe service after undergoing a 9-month major rehabilitation.

The Tanzania Shipping Company Limited’s  Head of Marketing, Mr Anselm Namala,  revealed today, giving relief to the residents after MV Butiama stopped services in December due to a lack of stability.

“The ship seemed to have gone sideways, only to let the company immediately take it to its workshop in Mwanza.

 “We apologize for the long maintenance. It is because we couldn’t in any way endanger the lives of passengers, crews and the vessel itself. It is now back, with full safety being guaranteed,” he said during the ship’s service resumption in Ukerewe.

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The Ukerewe District’s  Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Chairperson, Mr Khamis Mambile, also commented the efforts, saying that apart from MV Butiama’s resume, the government has also in the same month, provided the newly constructed two ferries to serve the Bukondo-Bwiro, as well as Lugezi Kisorya Islands in Ukerewe.

The District Commissioner, Mr Christopher Ngubiagai, commented that improvements of marine transport meant a lot to Ukerewe residents, mostly smoothing both people and cargo transportation, especially Lake Victoria’s products from the islands to Mwanza city’s markets.