JP Magufuli Bridge: More than just infrastructure, catalyst for economic transformation

Mwanza. As Tanzania continues to invest in transformative infrastructure projects, one stands out for its strategic significance and symbolic weight: the JP Magufuli Bridge also known as the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge.  

The 3.2-kilometre structure is now fully complete and scheduled for official inauguration by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on June 19, 2025.

The bridge—renamed in honour of Tanzania’s fifth President, the late Dr John Pombe Magufuli—is not just a monumental engineering feat; it is a lasting tribute to a leader whose vision for local infrastructure has shaped the country's development trajectory.

 After Magufuli’s passing in 2021, there were concerns the project might stall. Instead, it gained renewed momentum under President Samia’s administration, which prioritised the continuation and completion of all key development projects.

The result is a landmark connection across Lake Victoria, linking the Mwanza and Geita regions and opening up new frontiers in transportation, trade, and regional integration.

Rooted in history and vision

The late President Magufuli held a personal connection to the Kigongo-Busisi crossing. On a visit in December 2020, he recounted how, years earlier—before his rise to the presidency—he faced a harrowing delay while attempting to return from a traditional engagement ceremony.

“Back then, I was traveling on my XL125 Honda motorbike,” he recalled. “The ferry broke down—something that happened often. I considered crossing in a canoe but decided against it. Later, I learned the same canoe had capsized, killing 11 people. That memory stayed with me.”

That experience, he said, shaped his commitment to ensuring safer, more reliable crossings for Tanzanians. It was a promise he pursued first as Minister for Works, and later as President.

Samia delivers on the dream

When President Samia took office in 2021, the bridge’s construction stood at just 25 percent. Her administration swiftly made it a flagship priority.

Today, the bridge is ready for public use, thanks to accelerated round-the-clock construction efforts supported fully by government funding—amounting to Sh716.3 billion.

Once inaugurated, the bridge will serve as a critical link on the Usagara–Sengerema–Geita highway, replacing a decades-old ferry route and enabling faster, more efficient travel within the Lake Zone.

A continental record-setter

The JP Magufuli Bridge is now officially the longest bridge in East and Central Africa—and the sixth longest on the African continent. This ranking was confirmed by the Tanroads board during an inspection led by its chairman, Mr Joseph Haule.

Topping the list of Africa’s longest bridges is Egypt’s 6th October Bridge (20.5km), followed by Nigeria’s Third Mainland Bridge (11.8km), Egypt’s Suez Canal Bridge (3.9km), Mozambique’s Island Bridge (3.8km), and the Dona Ana Bridge (3.67km).

The JP Magufuli Bridge follows closely, cementing Tanzania’s place on the continent’s infrastructure map.

Unlocking economic potential

Beyond its engineering acclaim, the bridge is expected to be a game-changer for the region’s economy.

By replacing the Kigongo-Busisi ferry—which currently handles about 1,600 vehicles and over 2,000 passengers daily—the bridge will slash transport costs by an estimated 25 to 30 percent.

Travel times between Mwanza and Geita will shrink from more than two hours to just minutes, boosting mobility for traders, workers, and residents.

The benefits extend beyond convenience. The bridge is expected to stimulate interregional trade—especially in gold, cotton, and fish—linking Geita’s productive sectors to Mwanza’s commercial markets. The World Bank estimates that trade volumes in the region could rise by over 40 percent within five years of the bridge’s commissioning.

Moreover, more than 700 Tanzanians—most of them youth—were employed during construction, gaining valuable technical skills. A 2022 report by the National Development Corporation (NDC) projects over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs to be generated through new businesses emerging around the bridge area, such as restaurants, transport services, and retail trade.

Tourism is another expected beneficiary. Lake Victoria remains one of Tanzania’s top natural attractions, and improved road access is expected to increase tourism traffic to Mwanza and surrounding destinations.

According to the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), tourist arrivals in the Lake Zone rose by 10 percent in 2022, with projections of a further 20 percent increase following the bridge’s opening.

A boost for local expertise

Minister for Works, Mr Abdallah Ulega, commended both the Chinese contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the Tanzanian engineers who participated in the project from inception to completion.

He noted that local professionals played a central role in the bridge’s success—an experience that will be pivotal in future national projects.

“One example is Engineer Katelula Kaswaga, who has been part of this project from the start and is now overseeing similar bridges in Simiyu and Pangani. We are proud of the capacity our engineers have developed,” said the minister.

The government, he added, is increasingly confident in assigning large-scale infrastructure projects to local contractors and experts, thereby reducing dependency on foreign firms and building long-term national capability.

A national asset for generations

As Tanzania prepares to unveil the JP Magufuli Bridge, the occasion marks more than the completion of a high-profile project.

It is a statement of continuity, ambition, and unity—a testament to what the country can achieve through sustained political will, local talent, and strategic investment.

Indeed, the bridge is not just a structure connecting Kigongo and Busisi. It is a gateway to shared prosperity—and a lasting tribute to a president whose legacy continues to shape the nation’s future.