The Road Agency “TANROADS” in Kagera region oversees a network of roads totaling 1,966.29 kilometers. This includes 861.59 kilometers of main roads, 1,053.75 kilometers of regional roads, and 50.95 kilometers of district roads.
This was explained by the Manager of the Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS), Engineer Ntuli John Mwaikokesya, after a two-day working visit to inspect road, bridge, and street lighting projects.
He stated that, in addition to overseeing road and bridge maintenance, the Sixth Phase Government under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has continued to fund strategic projects over the past three years, with a total cost of 431.474 billion TZS at various stages of implementation.
He listed the projects, including the four-lane expansion of Bukoba (Rwamishenye roundabout) to Bukoba Port road (5.1 km), costing 4.641 billion TZS and being executed by local contractor M/s Abemulo Contractors Co. Ltd, which is currently 31% complete.
Another project is the construction of the Kitengule Bridge, 140 meters long, and connecting roads of 18 kilometers, costing 31.55 billion TZS. This project is 99% complete, implemented by M/s China Henan International Cooperation Group CO., LTD (CHICO), with the government contributing 26.55 billion TZS and the Kagera Sugar Factory contributing 5.00 billion TZS.
Engineer Mwaikokesya added that another project is the installation of street lights in towns and suburbs of Kagera region, where a total of 486 street lights and 4 traffic lights have been installed in various districts.
“We have installed 278 street lights and 4 traffic lights in Bukoba, 37 in Karagwe, 44 in Kyerwa, 66 in Ngara, 11 in Biharamulo, and 46 in Muleba. Additionally, in the 2023/24 financial year, a total of 573 lights worth 2.292 billion TZS will be installed in various areas of Kagera,” said Engineer Mwaikokesya.
Other projects include the construction of the road connecting Kagera and Kigoma regions, Nyakanazi-Kidahwe; the Nyakanazi-Kabingo section (50 km) to bitumen standard, with 30 km in Kagera and 20 km in Kigoma. This project, executed by local contractor M/s Nyanza Road Works Ltd, cost 47.9 billion TZS and is 100% complete, with the road now in use.
Additionally, the Sixth Phase Government has started the rehabilitation of the Lusahunga-Rusumo road (92 km) to bitumen standard, implemented by M/s China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at a cost of 153.564 billion TZS.
This road is part of the critical road network in Kagera, connecting Tanzania to neighboring Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the DRC via the Rusumo Bridge/border with Rwanda.
Engineer Mwaikokesya also mentioned that TANROADS in Kagera has started the construction of the road connecting Karagwe and Ngara districts through Burigi Chato Game Reserve, from Bugene-Kasulo-Kumunazi (128.5 km), the Bugene-Burigi Chato section (60 km).
This project, implemented over 30 months by China Road and Bridge Cooperation (CRBC), costs 92.84 billion TZS and is currently 41.9% complete.
“We are also continuing with the construction of the road from Kagera Sugar Junction (Bunazi) to Kagera Sugar to Kitengule Junction (25 km), implemented by M/s China Henan International Cooperation Group CO., LTD (CHICO) at a cost of 54.79 billion TZS over 24 months,” Engineer Mwaikokesya emphasized.
