Tanzania has completed the JP Magufuli Bridge, a landmark megaproject to redefine East and Central Africa’s transport and trade landscape. Stretching nearly five kilometres, it is now the longest bridge in the region and a bold symbol of Tanzania’s growing economic ambition.

The bridge, which spans three kilometres across the vast waters of Lake Victoria, is complemented by 1.66 kilometres of connecting roads. It forms a critical link in Tanzania’s Trunk Road T4, a key trade corridor that connects the country to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But this project is more than just concrete and steel. It’s a lifeline for businesses, farmers, and commuters across the Lake Zone. By slashing travel times and reducing dependency on ferries between Kigongo and Busisi, the bridge is poised to supercharge trade flows and open new economic frontiers.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan will officially inaugurate the bridge on June 19, 2025.

Named in honour of the late President John Pombe Magufuli, a champion of infrastructure-led development, the $270 million bridge is already being hailed as a triumph of Tanzanian engineering and vision.

Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega called it “a transformational milestone” and praised the government’s commitment to funding the project domestically. “The JP Magufuli Bridge is a testament to our nation's ability to mobilise internal resources for transformative development," he said.

The government is also fast-tracking two major road projects to support the bridge's impact: the 54.5-kilometre Sengerema–Nyehunge road and the 32-kilometre Kamanga–Sengerema route. Together, these developments promise to deepen regional integration and energise Tanzania’s Lake Zone economy.

With the JP Magufuli Bridge now complete, Tanzania stands at the threshold of a new era of faster trade, stronger connections, and greater opportunity across borders.