Mwanza, Tanzania — Tanzania has completed construction of the John Magufuli Bridge, a monumental $260 million project that now stands as East Africa’s longest bridge, stretching 3.2 kilometres across the Mwanza Gulf on the southern shores of Lake Victoria.
The bridge connects the towns of Kigongo and Busisi, replacing a decades-old ferry system and dramatically cutting travel time across the lake, from up to three hours to just minutes. It is set to be officially inaugurated on June 19 by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has lauded it as a flagship achievement of her administration.
“The JP Magufuli Bridge stands as a powerful symbol of our country’s capacity to mobilise domestic resources for transformative infrastructure,” said Abdallah Ulega, Tanzania’s Minister of Public Works. “It will unlock the vast economic potential of the Lake Zone.”
The bridge is part of a broader 90-kilometre transport corridor that connects Usagara, Sengerema, and Geita—towns critical to Tanzania’s mining, trade, and agricultural sectors. With a dual carriageway supporting speeds up to 120 km/h, the bridge is expected to improve safety, reduce logistics costs, and enhance regional integration.
“Before this bridge, ferries were the only option—slow, unsafe, and unpredictable,” said Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, announcing the bridge’s readiness. “Now, we open up the Lake Zone and beyond.”
A Regional Game-Changer
The bridge also serves a broader strategic function: enhancing trade connectivity between Tanzania and its landlocked neighbours—Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This is not just a Tanzanian achievement; it’s an East African milestone,” said regional infrastructure analyst David Rugemalira. “Lake Victoria can now become the trade hub it was always meant to be.”
Engineering Excellence with Global Collaboration
The design and construction of the bridge were undertaken by a joint venture between China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau. A special mention was made of eco-friendly engineering techniques employed during the build, such as the use of cofferdams that minimised underwater concrete work and preserved the lake’s fragile ecosystem.
The State Council of China has praised the bridge as a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project, a nod to Tanzania’s long-standing infrastructure collaboration with China that dates back to the iconic TAZARA railway.
“This project not only reflects technological advancement but also the spirit of Sino-Tanzanian friendship,” a Chinese embassy official remarked.
Honouring a Legacy
Originally named the Kigongo–Busisi Bridge, the structure was renamed in honour of former President John Pombe Magufuli, under whose leadership the project began in 2019. Though delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was seen through to completion under President Samia’s leadership.
“This bridge is a tribute to Magufuli’s vision of a connected, industrial Tanzania,” said Mwanza Governor Robert Gabriel. “It’s a legacy in concrete and steel.”
As East Africa eyes faster growth and stronger integration, the John Magufuli Bridge is poised to be both a national symbol and a regional catalyst—one that turns Lake Victoria from a barrier into a powerful economic conduit.
