Uganda’s President, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has officially launched the construction of a 272-kilometer Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line connecting Malaba to Kampala. The project, a significant infrastructure development for Uganda, will be carried out by Yapi Merkezi, a Turkish company, under a contract worth Euro 2.7 billion. The construction is set to be completed within 48 months.

President Museveni highlighted the importance of railway transport in easing traffic congestion in the capital, Kampala. “If we can have more railway transport within the city, there will be fewer people driving cars into the city. This will help decongest the city,” said Museveni. He also noted the success of the train currently in operation, which has been widely used by commuters, showcasing the potential of the new railway line to enhance urban mobility.

The new line is part of Uganda’s broader Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) network, which spans approximately 1,700 kilometers and is being developed in phases. The Malaba-Kampala section is the first of many planned routes, with other extensions planned, including the Western route to connect with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Northern route to link Uganda with South Sudan and DRC.

General Edward Katumba Wamal, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, provided further insight into the cross-border collaboration with neighboring Kenya. “Works on the Naivasha-Malaba section by our Kenyan counterparts will start very soon. The two countries have agreed on the timelines of the two projects to ensure seamless movement of trains from Kampala to Mombasa,” he said.

This major railway development is expected to stimulate trade, improve transportation efficiency, and drive economic growth in the region, positioning Uganda as a critical player in East Africa’s transport and logistics network.