Tanzania is set to commission the MV Mwanza ferry on Lake Victoria on Friday, expanding passenger and cargo transport capacity on East Africa’s largest lake and strengthening regional trade links with Kenya and Uganda, local media reported.
The vessel, which was constructed at the Mwanza shipyard by two South Korean firms, will operate routes linking Tanzania’s Bukoba port with domestic ports as well as Kisumu in Kenya and Port Bell and Jinja in Uganda.
Authorities say the ferry can carry up to 1,200 passengers, 400 tonnes of cargo, 20 light vehicles and three trucks, making it one of the largest passenger and cargo vessels operating on Lake Victoria.
The project cost about 120 billion Tanzanian shillings (US$46.9 million) and forms part of the government’s efforts to modernise public transport infrastructure and improve logistics efficiency across the region.
Tanzania’s transport ministry has said the MV Mwanza will support cross-border trade by easing the movement of goods and people between the three countries that share the lake, reducing pressure on road networks and lowering transport costs for traders.
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Lake Victoria is a key transport corridor for East Africa, serving millions of people and acting as a vital link for agricultural produce, fuel and manufactured goods moving between inland regions and major urban centres.
The launch of the ferry aligns with Tanzania’s broader strategy to develop an integrated transport and logistics system that connects road, rail, ports and inland waterways. In recent years, the government has stepped up investment in port modernisation projects and the construction of a standard-gauge railway (SGR) network.
The SGR is designed to improve links between the port of Dar es Salaam and neighbouring landlocked countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, boosting Tanzania’s role as a regional trade and transit hub.
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Officials have said inland water transport, including ferry services on Lake Victoria, is expected to complement these investments by providing a cost-effective alternative for moving bulk cargo and passengers.
The MV Mwanza is expected to begin regular operations shortly after its commissioning, with authorities saying it will enhance safety standards, reliability and capacity compared with older vessels currently operating on the lake.
