The Government of Tanzania has officially announced the completion of the JP Magufuli Bridge, connecting the towns of Kigongo and Busisi on either side of the Gulf of Mwanza, a narrow part of Lake Victoria.
Named in honour of the late President John Pombe Magufuli, the bridge represents one of the most ambitious public works initiatives in the nation’s history.
Logistics stakeholders agree that the new link on the B163 route opens up major supply chain opportunities for the Port of Mwanza on the southern shores of Lake Victoria.
Stretching approximately three kilometres across the southern section of Lake Victoria, the bridge – also known as the Kigongo–Busisi Bridge – is now the longest in East and Central Africa.
It includes an additional 1.66 kilometres of connecting approach roads, bringing the total length to 4.66 kilometres. The project was fully financed through domestic tax revenues, with a total investment exceeding 700 billion Tanzanian shillings (roughly $260 million), highlighting Tanzania’s growing fiscal self-reliance and commitment to infrastructure-led development.
The bridge effectively replaces the long-standing ferry transport system that has for years hindered the efficient movement of people and goods. Travel across the corridor previously relied on ferry services that were often delayed and limited by weather conditions.
Once the bridge is officially opened on June 19, it will significantly reduce the three hours or more it used to take to cross the Gulf of Mwanza.
“The JP Magufuli Bridge is more than just a structure—it is a symbol of our national ambition and our ability to drive development with local resources,” said Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
“It will boost trade, enhance safety, and open up economic opportunities throughout the Lake Zone and across borders.”
Strategically situated, the bridge forms a critical link in Tanzania’s broader highway network and plays a central role in facilitating cross-border connectivity with Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By enhancing road transport efficiency, it is expected to spur regional trade, stimulate local industries, and improve access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
In tandem with the bridge, the government is progressing with several complementary road projects, including the Sengerema–Nyehunge and Kamanga–Sengerema roads. These developments are designed to further boost logistical efficiency and catalyse economic growth in the region.
Before the completion of the JP Magufuli Bridge (Kigongo-Busisi Bridge), travelling to Mwanza, especially for logistics coming from Rwanda and Burundi, involved a significant detour because there was no direct road crossing over the part of Lake Victoria between Kigongo and Busisi.
The ferry crossing was a key bottleneck, causing delays and limiting the volume and speed of transport. The ferry system was often slow, subject to weather conditions, and had limited capacity, affecting the efficiency of logistics and trade.
Without the bridge, trucks coming from Rwanda and Burundi typically travelled by road through Tanzania to reach Mwanza via more circuitous routes. This involved travelling through major inland transit points such as Isaka, which serves as a dry port and rail transhipment hub for cargo from Rwanda and Burundi. From Isaka, goods would be transported by road or rail to Mwanza.
The Isaka dry port, located on the railway line connecting to Mwanza, was a critical logistics node. Freight from Rwanda and Burundi was often transhipped here onto trains bound for the seaport of Dar es Salaam or to Mwanza. However, this rail system was based on older metre-gauge tracks and had limitations in speed and capacity.
The absence of a direct bridge crossing meant longer travel times, higher transport costs, and logistical inefficiencies for goods moving between Rwanda, Burundi, and Mwanza, as well as onward to the Tanzanian coast or other regional markets.
