By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan today officially inaugurated the John Pombe Magufuli Bridge in a historic ceremony attended by hundreds of excited citizens. The monumental infrastructure project, stretching approximately 3 kilometers (or 3.2 kilometers according to some reports, including approach roads) across Lake Victoria’s Mwanza Gulf, is set to significantly transform transport and trade in the East African region.

The bridge, which also includes an additional 1.6 kilometers of access roads, links Kigongo in Mwanza Region to Busisi in Sengerema District (connecting with Geita Region). This route previously relied on slow and often unreliable ferry transport, with crossing times that could extend up to three hours. The new bridge dramatically reduces this travel time to mere minutes, promising continuous, safe, and faster passage for both people and goods.

Named in honor of the late President John Pombe Magufuli, under whose leadership the project began in 2019, the bridge stands as a testament to Tanzania’s commitment to infrastructure-led development. Built at a cost of approximately 718.947 billion Tanzanian Shillings (around $260-$300 million USD), it is now officially recognized as the longest bridge in East and Central Africa and ranks among the top ten longest on the African continent.

Beyond its immediate local impact, the John Pombe Magufuli Bridge serves a crucial strategic function. It provides a vital transport corridor, strengthening physical and economic connectivity between Tanzania and its landlocked neighbors: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Several reports also include Kenya in the list of countries that will benefit from enhanced trade and logistics due to this new artery along Tanzania’s Central Corridor. This improvement is expected to boost key sectors such as mining, agriculture, fishing, and tourism across the region.