• 3.2 km bridge connects Kigongo and Busisi, longest in East Africa

• Replaces ferry system, cutting travel time and boosting safety

• Enhances trade links between Tanzania and landlocked neighbors

Tanzania has completed the construction of the John Magufuli Bridge across Lake Victoria. According to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, the bridge will officially open to traffic on June 19. At 3.2 kilometers, it is the longest bridge in East Africa and ranks among the ten longest on the African continent.

The project, valued at approximately TZS 700 billion (about $260 million), links the towns of Kigongo and Busisi. It will form part of a broader 90-kilometer highway network connecting Usagara, Sengerema, and Geita in the northwest.

Before the bridge, vehicles relied on ferries to cross the lake—a process marked by long wait times and safety concerns. Crossing the lake could take up to three hours, including delays in boarding.

The bridge is expected to streamline transportation by significantly reducing travel time and improving safety for passengers and cargo. It will also serve as a key trade corridor, strengthening economic connectivity between Tanzania and landlocked countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By improving logistics and regional integration, the John Magufuli Bridge is positioned to become a critical piece of infrastructure supporting East Africa’s broader economic development.