KAGERA: THE over 20bn/- Kemondo Port expansion project is almost complete and will soon be ready to accommodate the eagerly awaited MV Mwanza Hapa Kazi Tu.
Launched in January last year, the project is now 98 per cent complete. The key upgrades include the expansion of the berth depth from 80 metres to over 100 metres, and an increase in width from 3 metres to at least 5 metres.
The improvements enable the port to handle larger vessels, including the newly built MV Mwanza, which is 92.6 metres long, according to Mr Mnanka Maginga, an engineer at the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).
“There is also space for two additional ships, each up to 60 metres in length,” he said. “Other upgrades include expanding the passenger lounge, which has doubled its capacity from 300 to 600 people.”
Additional work includes re-roofing and repainting cargo sheds, upgrading the electrical system and constructing a shaded car park that can accommodate at least 20 vehicles.
“The final touches are focused on painting and furniture installation,” Mr Maginga added.
Port Officer Mr Erick Onditi highlighted that the project has already benefitted the local community, creating over 100 job opportunities for residents.
The berth renovation has also increased the capacity for private boats, now able to hold up to 20 vessels, compared to just three previously.
“People in various Lake Victoria islands now have not only reliable, but full-time transportation, as boat owners are in the process of bringing in additional vessels,” he said.
Kemondo Ward resident, Mr Abdulkarim Mashauri commended the renovation of the cargo shed, noting that it has significantly improved storage capacity for goods, especially for products from Lake Victoria.
“Dried marine species, such as fish and sardines, are perishable. In the past, we faced big losses during the rainy season due to limited storage space in the old cargo shed,” Mr Mashauri explained.
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Moreover, the Daily News visited the Bukoba Port expansion project, valued at 20bn/-, which is 75 per cent complete, according to Mr Maginga.
Like the Kemondo project, Bukoba Port’s expansion began in January last year and is expected to be finished by February 2025. The project involves expanding the current berth from 80 to over 100 metres and adding two more berths to accommodate passenger and cargo boats serving Lake Victoria islands.
It was noted that both the Bukoba and Kemondo ship berths, as well as the passenger lounges, will have similar capacities.
Mr Mussa Kagasheki, a passenger boat operator from Bukoba to Bumbile Island, also commended the project for providing new and modern docking facilities. He said: “The business was unpredictable with the old, outdated dock, especially during the recent El Niño rains, when it was often submerged.”
