The President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu is expected to inaugurate the Magufuli Bridge that runs from Kigongo to Busisi this May. This will be marking a key milestone in the implementation of one of the largest infrastructure projects in Africa.
The bridge extends up to 3 kilometres and was renamed JPM Bridge to honour the country’s late President John Pombe Magufuli. It kicked off construction on 25 February 2020 and was initially scheduled for completion by December 2024.
Project Factsheet
Name: Magufuli Bridge (formerly known as Kigongo-Busisi Bridge)
Location: Spans the Gulf of Mwanza on Lake Victoria, connecting Kigongo in the Mwanza Region and Busisi in the Geita Region, northwestern Tanzania.
Purpose:
- To provide a direct road link between Kigongo and Busisi, replacing the unreliable and time-consuming ferry service.
- Facilitate faster movement of goods, services, and people.
Key features:
Length: 3.2 kilometers (approximately 2 miles). Some sources mention a total project length of 4.66 kilometers, including connecting roads.
Width: 28.45 meters (93.3 feet).
Carriageways: Two, each 7.0 meters wide for vehicles.
Emergency lanes: 2.5 meters wide on each side.
Walkways: 2.5 meters wide on both sides for pedestrians.
Capacity: Expected to allow 12,000 vehicles to pass daily.
Type: Extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge, the only one of its kind in the Lake Victoria region. It features three main pylons, each 40 meters high and spaced 160 meters apart.
Contractors: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in collaboration with China Railway 15 Bureau Group Corporation (CR15G JV).
Funding: Government of Tanzania.
Start date: December 7, 2019.
Construction completion: Construction was completed on October 6, 2024, with the pouring of the final cement tank.
Cost: Initially reported at TSh 699 billion, later estimated at around $300 million (approximately TSh 716.3 billion).
Green construction: Innovative eco-friendly building techniques were employed, including a proprietary underwater flexible cofferdam for pile cap construction, minimizing environmental impact on Lake Victoria’s water quality.
Significance:
- The bridge is a flagship project for Tanzania and a symbol of national pride.
- It is a key infrastructure project under Tanzania’s development vision and aligns with the Belt and Road Initiative.
- It is expected to significantly boost trade and economic activities in the Lake Victoria zone and with neighboring countries.
Also read: East Africa’s Longest Bridge in Tanzania: The Magufuli Bridge
The Sixth Longest in Africa
Once it will be inaugurated, the bridge will become the sixth longest in Africa.
These inauguration plans were revealed by Minister of Works, Mr Abdallah Ulega during his contributions to the 2025/26 budget debate for the Prime Minister’s office and affiliated institutions, presented in Parliament on 15 April 2025.
Mr Ulega revealed that the bridge was only 20% complete when Samia Suluhu assumed office. However, great progress has been seen on the project under her administration.
“This is a landmark project. It is a three-kilometer bridge that is not like any other in East and Central Africa. On the inauguration day, members of parliament and citizens will be invited to witness this major national achievement.” He stated.
Significance of Magufuli Bridge
The bridge was constructed to improve connectivity between Mwanza and surrounding regions. Additionally, it was constructed at a cost of Sh716.33 billion.
Lastly, Mr Ulega dismissed the circulating rumours on social media that Somanga Bridge had collapsed.
“That information is not true. The bridge remains intact. However, as a result of heavy rains and increased water flow into the Indian Ocean, water has been passing over the surface of the bridge,” he clarified.
He noted that as a precaution, they have temporarily suspended access to the bridge. This is in line with standard safety protocols. Also, measures have also been taken in other locations like Jangwani Bridge with the aim of safeguards public safety during harsh weather conditions.
Also read: Updates on Multimillion Magufuli Bridge: Longest Bridge in East Africa
