🌉 Tanzania Unveils JP Magufuli Bridge – East Africa’s Longest Over Open Water
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; margin: auto; max-width: 1200px; padding: 40px;">🇹🇿 A Landmark of Legacy and Progress
Tanzania officially opened the JP Magufuli Bridge on Thursday — a stunning 3.0-kilometre structure that now stands as the longest bridge across open water in East Africa, and the sixth-longest in all of Africa.
The bridge crosses Lake Victoria’s Gulf of Mwanza, linking communities that once relied heavily on ferries. It’s more than a feat of engineering — it’s a symbol of continuity, vision, and national pride.
🎉 A Presidential Moment
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who hailed the bridge as a national milestone. Beside her stood former First Lady Janeth Magufuli, honouring the legacy of her late husband, President John Pombe Magufuli, who initiated the project in February 2020.
“This is a landmark project unlike any other in East and Central Africa,”
said Works Minister Abdallah Ulega, calling the bridge’s completion “a national achievement.”
🔧 Built Against the Odds
At the time of Magufuli’s death in March 2021, only 20–25% of the bridge had been completed. President Samia pledged continuity — and delivered. Under her administration, construction accelerated, wrapping up ahead of the original December 2024 target.
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🏗️ Length: 3.0 km bridge + 1.66 km connecting road
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💰 Cost: $300 million
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⛴️ Replaces: Kigongo–Busisi ferry crossing
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⏱️ Impact: Major reduction in travel time and increased trade efficiency
🌍 Connecting a Region
Replacing a ferry system long plagued by delays and weather disruptions, the JP Magufuli Bridge now offers a permanent, reliable route for residents and businesses across the Lake Zone.
From smoother access to essential services to increased regional trade, the bridge strengthens Tanzania’s growing role as a logistical hub in the Great Lakes region.
“The nation celebrates,” said Ulega. And rightfully so.