The Tanzanian government has completed construction of the Magufuli Bridge, a major transport connection over Lake Victoria. It has a length of three kilometres and comprises 1.66 kilometres of the access roads and the Kigongo-Busisi connection. It is now the longest bridge in Central and East Africa. Significantly, it is part of the Tanzanian Trunk Road T4, which links Tanzania to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials assert that the bridge will cut down significantly on travel time and do away with slow ferry transportation across the lake.
“The Magufuli Bridge is proof of our nation’s ability to mobilize domestic resources towards transformative development,” Works Minister Abdallah Ulega said. He added, “It will facilitate movement from Kigongo to Busisi, reduce reliance on ferry transportation, and open up economic opportunity throughout the Lake Zone.” Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa also unveiled that the bridge would be opened on June 19, 2025. “This is a time to be proud of our country,” he stated while paying a visit to the site. “I urge citizens to turn out in large numbers to welcome the Head of State for the official opening,” Majaliwa added. Magufuli Bridge will boost logistics, supplement regional integration and open up new commercial corridors.
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East Africa’s Longest Bridge in Tanzania: The Magufuli Bridge
Project Factsheet
Significance:
- Enhances transport efficiency by replacing ferry services across Lake Victoria.
- Deepens Tanzania’s regional trade links with Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC.
- Promotes economic integration and business activity in the Lake Zone.
- Symbolizes Tanzania’s ability to finance and execute large-scale infrastructure using domestic resources.
Infrastructure:
- Central bridge spans three kilometres across Lake Victoria, the longest in East and Central Africa.
- Includes 1.66 kilometres of feeder roads connecting to Kigongo and Busisi.
- Part of Trunk Road T4 corridor, a national strategic transport corridor.
- Complemented by two key roads: 54.5 km Sengerema–Nyehunge and 32 km Kamanga–Sengerema.
Developer:
- Driven and funded by the Government of Tanzania.
- Directed by the Ministry of Works.
- Senior leaders like Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Minister Abdallah Ulega have inspected progress.
- Built using in-house capability without foreign funding.
Funding:
- Project cost recorded at TZS 700 billion (approximately USD 270 million).
- Fully funded by the Tanzanian government.
- Demonstrates commitment to independent infrastructure development.
Significance of the Magufuli Bridge in Tanzania
The Magufuli Bridge is a testament to Tanzanian engineering development and regional ambition. It provides unbroken, faster and more secure road transport across Lake Victoria by doing away with ferries. This increases efficiency, reduces the cost of transportation and encourages cross-border commerce. The bridge has also been supported by main feeder roads, such as the 54.5-kilometre Sengerema–Nyehunge and the 32-kilometre Kamanga–Sengerema. These are increasing the project’s impact in rural access, service delivery, and regional mobility. The bridge and these roads collectively form an essential transport network for the Lake Zone. The scope of implementation reflects a broad national effort to construct resilient infrastructure. The Magufuli Bridge is hence not merely a structure but an instrument of socio-economic transformation.
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