The town of Butiama is the birthplace of Julius Nyerere, the founding father and the first president of Tanzania.

Butiama is also the homeland of the Zanaki people, of which the founding father was a member.

Several things have been named Butiama because of its significance to Tanzanian history, including the ferry MV Butiama that operates between Mwanza and Ukerewe.

According to the 2002 Tanzania National Census, the population of Butiama was 15,383.

This Mara Region location article is a stub.