The Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Deogratius Ndejembi (right), the Chairman of the SBT’s Board of Directors, Filbert Michael Mponzi (centre), and the SBT Director General, Prof. Kenneth Bengesi (left), pose for a group photo shortly after Hon. Ndejembi presented SBT with the award for third place nationally in the category of Non-Commercial Public Institutions at the Public Financial Management Excellence Awards. The awards were presented on September 28, 2026, in Arusha, during the Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of Public Institutions and Organizations Working Session (C-CEOs Forum 2026), held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
The Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) has secured national acclaim after emerging as the third-best performing institution in the Non-Commercial Public Entities category during the prestigious Public Financial Management Awards.
The award was presented on September 28, 2026, in Arusha during the Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers Forum (C-CEOs Forum 2026), held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
SBT Board Chairman Mr. Filbert Michael Mponzi and Director General Prof. Kenneth Bengesi received the award from the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Deogratius Ndejembi, who represented President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The high-level conference, organized by the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR), serves as a strategic platform to evaluate performance, governance, and financial accountability across state-owned entities. Outlining the rigorous criteria used to evaluate non-commercial entities, Treasury Registrar Mr. Nehemiah Mchechu stated:
‘This award is presented to institutions that have strengthened revenue collection, controlled expenditure, reduced dependency on government subsidies, and improved operational surplus and liquidity in their audited accounts for the 2024/25 financial year. While all entities performed well, ten stood out as the top performers.’
Mr. Mchechu revealed that SBT clinched 3rd place in this elite category. The Arusha Institute of Accountancy (IAA) took 1st place, while the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) secured 2nd place.
Other institutions featured in the top 10 national ranking included UCSAF, TASAC, PURA, DIB, NHIF, WCF, and PSSSF.
Key factors driving SBT’s success
The Sugar Board’s recognition stems from structural and governance reforms implemented across its regulatory framework:
Blueprint reforms implementation: SBT successfully scrapped 16 nuisance levies and fees, significantly easing regulatory compliance costs for sugar millers and smallholder sugarcane growers.
Elimination of regulatory duplication: The government streamlined overlapping mandates between SBT and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MITI) regarding sugar import permits, eliminating bureaucratic delays.
Financial systems integration: SBT fully digitized its financial management by deploying core government platforms, including the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG), National e-Procurement System (NeST), and the MUSE accounting package.
Clean Audit Track Record: The Board maintained its record of Unqualified (Clean) Audit Opinions from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).
The primary objective of the Treasury Registrar’s Financial Management Awards is to instill fiscal discipline, transparency, and prudent resource allocation across public organizations.
The awards incentivize statutory bodies to curb unnecessary operational costs, boost internal revenue generation, and ensure that every public shilling delivers maximum value in support of Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050.
Strategic roadmap for future growth
To build upon this achievement and maintain high standards of governance, the Sugar Board of Tanzania has outlined key strategic priorities;
100% Digital Procurement via NeST: Conducting all procurement transactions strictly within the NeST framework to ensure total compliance with public procurement laws.
Automated sector licensing: Fully digitizing permit and licensing processes to provide seamless online services to investors and importers.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM): Strengthening internal controls and risk management frameworks prior to external CAG audits.
SIDTF Account Stewardship: Enhancing financial transparency regarding the Sugar Industry Development Trust Fund to build stakeholder confidence among growers and millers.
Attaining Sugar Self-Sufficiency: Working closely with domestic sugar millers (including Kagera, TPC, Kilombero, Mtibwa, Mkulazi, Bagamoyo and Manyara Sugar) to boost local production, save foreign exchange, and guarantee national food security.
The SBT Management highly commends the Board Chairman and all members of the Board of Directors for their continuous strategic guidance and advice in overseeing the implementation of the Board’s operations