TOUGH TIMES! Heavy Fines, Prison Terms for Ugandans Doing These 15 Businesses Reserved for Tanzanians

 Ugandans and other foreigners will pay heavy fines and serve prison terms for doing these 15 businesses that have been reserved for Tanzanians, according to a new regulation approved by the Tanzanian government led by Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The new regulation was announced by Tanzania’s Minister for Trade, Selemani Saidi Jafo.

The Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, bans non-citizens from engaging in certain businesses.

Jafo made it clear that all licensing authorities are barred from granting or extending licences to non-citizens who want to run these businesses.

On Monday, July 28, 2025, the Tanzanian government published the Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025.

Non-Tanzanians risk being forced to cough TSh 10 million as a fine if they are found operating the 15 listed businesses in Tanzania.

They could also be jailed for six months on top of the loss of their visas and residence permits.

“If found guilty, a non-citizen who engages in any of the commercial activities listed in the schedule to this order faces a minimum fine of ten million shillings, a maximum sentence of six months in jail, and the cancellation of their visa and residence permit,” noted Selemani Saidi Jafo, the trade minister.

Even Tanzanians face punishment if they are convicted of assisting non-citizens engage in the 15 businesses non-citizens are not allowed to take part in on Tanzanian soil.

Citizens found guilty of this offence in ‘Suluhuland’ risk being fined  TSh 5 million or spending three months in prison.

15 businesses Ugandans and other non-citizens are not allowed to do in Tanzania

1. Retail and wholesale sales of goods, excluding supermarkets, speciality stores, and wholesale hubs for regional manufacturers
2. Mobile money transfers
3. Fixing technological gadgets and cell phones
4. Salon operations – except in case where these are done in hotels or for tourism purposes
5. Home offices and environmental cleanliness
6. Small scale mining
7. Postal operations and package delivery
8. Providing domestic tour guidance
9. Radio and television establishments and operations
10. Running cultural stores or museums
11. Clearing and forwarding services
12. Agencies or brokerages in real estate and business
13. Buying crops on the farm
14. Possession or use of gaming machines or equipment – save for those on casino premises
15. Ownership and management of small and micro-enterprises

Under president Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania has been in the news for the wrong reasons, including arrest of activists from neighboring countries. (See related reporting Here and There).

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