Tanzania completes East and Central Africa’s longest bridge
Tanzania has completed construction of the JP Magufuli Bridge, a historic infrastructure project expected to transform transport and trade across the Lake Victoria region and beyond.
Named after the late President John Pombe Magufuli, the bridge spans three kilometres across Lake Victoria, with an additional 1.66 kilometres of approach roads connecting it to the Kigongo-Busisi route. At a total length of nearly five kilometres, it becomes the longest bridge in East and Central Africa, the Citizen reports.
The bridge is a key component of Tanzania’s Trunk Road T4, a strategic highway corridor that links the country to neighbouring Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is expected to significantly enhance regional integration by facilitating faster and more efficient movement of goods and people.
In support of the project, the Tanzanian government is also developing complementary road infrastructure, including the 54.5-kilometre Sengerema–Nyehunge and the 32-kilometre Kamanga–Sengerema roads. These routes aim to improve regional accessibility and strengthen supply chains within Tanzania’s Lake Zone.
The bridge will officially be inaugurated on June 19, 2025, by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, according to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, who called the project “a proud moment for the nation.”
Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega hailed the bridge as a “transformational milestone,” highlighting its role in reducing dependence on ferry transport between Kigongo and Busisi and unlocking new economic opportunities.
"The JP Magufuli Bridge is a testament to our nation's ability to mobilise internal resources for transformative development," said Ulega. "It will ease movement between Kigongo and Busisi, reduce reliance on ferry transport, and unlock economic potential across the Lake Zone," he said.
Built at a cost of $270 million, the JP Magufuli Bridge is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s broader development strategy.
