TPA: Mwanza, Bukoba port expansion projects progress well
MWANZA: THE Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has assured the public that the construction and expansion of Mwanza and Bukoba ports are progressing well and will resume normal operations early next year.
The construction and expansion involve three ports: Mwanza North, which is 40 per cent complete, Kemondo at 75 per cent and Bukoba, which is also 73 per cent complete.
These updates were provided on Monday by Victoria Lake Port Manager, Erasto Lugenge, during a site visit to one of the ports in Mwanza.
“I ask the public to be patient. Things are proceeding as planned. The projects are ongoing and are not stalled. I assure you that early next year, services will return to normal,” said Mr Lugenge.
Mr Lugenge noted that all three projects cost approximately 60bn/-, provided by the government for improvements and expansions at these ports, out of the six located on Lake Victoria.
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He explained the improvements at Mwanza North include the construction of a passenger waiting building, a perimeter fence around the port, roadworks and a hard floor, as well as a building for passenger and cargo inspection. Additionally, there is an expansion of the quay for docking the largest ships, which is still under construction at Mwanza South.
“The construction and expansion of all three ports will take 18 months,” he added.
He praised the sixth-phase government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for prioritising the construction and expansion of Lake Victoria ports. He noted that Lake Victoria has a total of 12 ports, six of which are major: Mwanza North, Mwanza South, Bukoba, Kemondo, Nansio-Ukerewe and Musoma.
Other smaller ports include Mwigobelo, Kyamkwikwi, Magalini, Lushamba and Ntama, located in the five surrounding regions of Lake Victoria: Kagera, Mwanza, Geita, Simiyu and Shinyanga.
