The economy of Bukoba relies largely on agriculture dominated by coffee, tea, banana, beans, vanilla, yams, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, and modest animal husbandry. Fishing is widely practiced in Lake Victoria and Lake Ikimba in the interior. There is a small manufacturing sector centered around the processing of agriculture-based produce such as instant coffee by TANICA, sugar production by Kagera Sugar Company, tea processing, fish processing, and a service sector concentrated around Bukoba Municipality and other suburban areas.
Shipping in Kemondo and Bukoba Municipal harbor and cross border trade with neighbouring countries are additional economic activities. The Chato Airport currently under construction across the border in the neighboring Geita Region will provide additional access to Kagera Region, Burigi-Chato, Rubondo Island, Biharamulo, Kimisi, Ibanda, and Rumanyika National Parks. There are two ports (harbors) on the shore of Lake Victoria in Bukoba that serve to transport goods and passages to and from Bukoba thereby connecting Bukoba economy with the rest of Tanzania and neighbouring countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. One port is located in Bukoba Municipality (see below) and another at Kemondo Bay about 21 km from Bukoba Municipality.
Pictured: Bukoba Harbor on the shore of Lake Victoria