Why Magufuli Bridge is a godsend to residents of islets

In an exclusive interview with The Citizen, Mwanza Regional Commissioner Saidi Mtanda revealed that following the operationalisation of the 3.2-kilometre bridge—the longest in East and Central Africa—ferries previously operating at the crossing point will now be redeployed to underserved areas.

“With the commissioning of the bridge, ferries are no longer required at Kigongo–Busisi. We now have the opportunity to address historical transport challenges faced by islets in Ukerewe and Sengerema,” said Mr Mtanda.

He said the region currently has 11 government-owned ferries under the management of the Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (Temesa) and that a strategic redistribution plan is already underway.

“For example, the ferry at Kome is in poor condition. We’ve resolved to send one of the existing ferries there and another will go to Sengerema and Ukerewe,” he noted.

“We are also constructing four brand-new ferries worth Sh28 billion to be dispatched to other underserved areas of the region.”

For the residents of Ukerewe—home to more than 30 islets scattered across the lake—this development is being hailed as a much-needed lifeline.

Many villagers must travel for hours by water to access healthcare, schools, or markets, often in unsafe or unreliable boats.

“I never imagined this day would come,” said Ms Christina Yona, a mother of five in Bwiro Village, Ukerewe, during a telephone interview.

“We’ve lost patients and pregnant women on the way to the hospital due to poor transport. If they add another ferry to our route, it will mean life or death to some of us.”

On Kome Islet, 60-year-old farmer Hamisi Sungu echoed the sentiment, saying the news of receiving a new ferry had moved him to tears.

“For many years, our voices were not heard. The current boat is a risk every time we use it. We thank the government for finally remembering us,” he said.

The reallocation of ferries follows the transformation of mainland connectivity, with ferry operations between Kigongo and Busisi rendered redundant.

The new bridge cuts crossing time from up to two hours—including queuing and travel—to just five minutes, unlocking economic potential and boosting productivity.

Before the bridge, daily ferry operations earned Temesa about Sh1.8 billion annually, collecting Sh400 per head from over 13,000 daily users—but at a high cost in time and lost opportunity.

“It wasn’t just the Sh400; it was the lost hours,” said Mr Mtanda. “Two hours a day multiplied by thousands means lost productivity, lost business and even missed medical appointments.”

He added that the bridge is a catalyst for Mwanza’s economic and social renewal. A new market worth Sh123 billion, modelled on Dar es Salaam’s Kariakoo, is under construction to leverage improved movement.

“This bridge connects Mwanza to Geita, Katoro and Sengerema. People can shop and return home the same day. We want this to be a 24-hour market hub,” he said.

The bridge also carries deep symbolism, being the realisation of a vision by the late President John Pombe Magufuli, who championed its construction following multiple fatal boat accidents in the area.

“President Magufuli prioritised safety and development. Before ferries, people used canoes. Many lives were lost. He insisted on building the bridge despite doubts about its feasibility,” Mr Mtanda recalled.

By the time of Magufuli’s death, the project was 24 percent complete. His successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, continued and finalised the work. She is expected to officially inaugurate the bridge on Thursday, marking not only an engineering feat but a milestone in advancing social equity for the Lake Zone.

“We may not walk across that bridge,” said Ms Mwanaidi Mbwana, a trader from Irugwa Islet, “but its coming has finally brought us closer to the rest of the country.”