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JP Magufuli Bridge lays foundation for Vision 2050
What you need to know:
- Government officials, academics and private sector leaders have described the bridge as a milestone in Tanzania’s infrastructure journey and a symbol of self-reliant development, financed primarily through domestic resources.
Dar es Salaam. The newly inaugurated Kigongo–Busisi Bridge, officially named the JP Magufuli Bridge, has been hailed as a transformative national asset that is set to accelerate economic growth, improve regional connectivity and promote social inclusion across Tanzania and the East African region.
Government officials, academics and private sector leaders have described the bridge as a milestone in Tanzania’s infrastructure journey and a symbol of self-reliant development, financed primarily through domestic resources.
Speaking during the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum held on June 22, 2025, under the theme “Building Bridges, Building a Nation: Infrastructure as a Driver of Inclusive Growth,” minister for Works Abdallah Ulega said the bridge holds strategic importance for Tanzania.
“Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, we have chosen the path of self-reliance by funding major infrastructure projects through locally mobilised taxes. Our goal is to build a future driven by reliable and modern infrastructure,” said Mr Ulega.
He said that the Sh700 billion investment has revolutionised access between Mwanza and Geita, where residents previously relied on unreliable ferry services to access essential services.
“Infrastructure improves livelihoods, connects communities, and facilitates trade,” he added.
Mr Ulega also highlighted efforts to build a pool of skilled local engineers and construction professionals, especially women and youth, noting the successful leadership of a young Tanzanian engineer in overseeing the entire bridge project from design to completion. Deputy Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Works, Ms Blandina Kihama, stressed that investing in infrastructure delivers broader benefits than sector-specific investments. “If this Sh700 billion had been used exclusively for agriculture, post-harvest losses would still have persisted. The bridge addresses logistical barriers and ensures produce reaches markets on time,” she said.
Planning and Investment minister Prof Kitila Mkumbo said there were a number of economic opportunities in the Lake Zone, which is home to over 16 million people and contributes Sh49 trillion to national GDP annually, with Mwanza accounting for Sh13.5 trillion.
“Transport infrastructure is the backbone of production and trade. Without it, there is no economic freedom,” said Prof Mkumbo. “The JP Magufuli Bridge lays the foundation for our Vision 2050, which seeks to grow Tanzania into a $1 trillion economy.”
He noted that transport and logistics infrastructure are top priorities in the vision, and the bridge’s scale and quality reflect the country’s commitment to that long-term goal.
Geita Rural MP Joseph Kasheku, known as Musukuma, offered a personal reflection, recalling that he was once arrested for questioning the feasibility of the bridge.
“Before 2005, ferries stopped operating at 10am. Many patients missed urgent care. Today, we drive across a bridge we never thought possible,” he said, crediting the late President John Magufuli for initiating the project and President Samia for completing it.
An economist from the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Hannibal Bwire, described the bridge as a major development enabler along the Central Corridor. “Roads increase land value and traffic flow. This calls for strategic access control and urban planning,” he advised.
Transport minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said continued investment in transformative projects such as the JP Magufuli Bridge could see Tanzania attain upper-middle-income status within the next five to six years.
“This is more than an achievement—it’s a game changer,” said Prof Mbarawa.
“When you stand on that bridge in Mwanza, you don’t just see concrete and steel; you see development, vision, and national pride.”
CCM Youth Wing (UVCCM) secretary general Jokate Mwegelo underscored the bridge’s social impact, noting that 92 percent of the 35,000 jobs created during its construction were filled by Tanzanians, most of them youth.
“These are not short-term jobs. Projects like this equip our youth with skills, networks and long-term business opportunities,” she said, calling for more support for young people in accessing tenders, finance and mentorship.
Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, framed the bridge as both an economic and diplomatic asset, saying it strengthens Tanzania’s role as a regional gateway.
“Our roads and bridges are economic lifelines for landlocked countries in the region. This is not just domestic infrastructure—it’s regional infrastructure,” he said.
Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) Director General Masanja Kadogosa spoke of future integration plans, with seamless rail, road, and water transport expected between Kigoma, Mwanza and Burundi by 2030.
“These are not just routes; they are trade corridors that will reduce logistics costs and raise export volumes,” he said.
Ambassador John Ulanga supported this view, noting that transport costs contribute up to 50 percent of product prices.
“Improved infrastructure enhances our competitiveness. Business partners value reliable logistics above all,” he said.
Mwananchi Communications Ltd managing director Rosalyn Mdolwa-Mworia said the forum provided a crucial platform for public engagement on national priorities.
“The JP Magufuli Bridge connects more than places—it links policy to people and vision to reality,” she said, adding that inclusive dialogue and informed journalism are critical to national development.
