Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has embarked on a five year plan to revive the meter gauge railway.
Charles Kateeba, the Executive Director, URC, says the US$ 340M plan to revive the meter gauge railway is funded by the European Union (EU). He led a team of URC technical officers to inspect the Jinja Railways station on Tuesday 24th.
According to Kateeba, they conducted feasibility studies early this year and identified a contractor to create structural designs for a world class inland container depot at Port Bell.
URC owns 1,200 cargo containers, which have remained redundant due to lack of a functional meter gauge system.
Kateeba argues that the rehabilitation of the railway line will boost both the import and export markets within the East African region.
He disclosed that members of the URC technical committee are conducting a week long survey to assess viable sites for the construction of business centers along the rail line. He also added that they have plans of constructing a modern inland container depot in Gulu district, which will handle containers from both road and rail.
Jowali Kyeyago, the Chairperson of the URC Operations and Technical committee, says they are negotiating with various factory owners to ensure viable business opportunities for the revamped rail line.
Government resolved to revive the rail line after withdrawing from the Rift Valley Railways concession held by Qalaa Holdings of Egypt in 2017.
Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija said they have resolved to end the 25-year concession after Rift Valley Railways failed to meet parameters like payment of concession fees, increase freight traffic volumes and turn around Railway operations.
Letters to My Younger Self: Winnie Nakimuli—"You Are Worthy Simply Because You Exist"The Minister of Works and Transport Monica Azuba has said that the government is committed to constructing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) whether Kenya plays its part or not.
Kenya is currently constructing 120km line from Nairobi to Naivasha at $1.7bn and will be followed by Naivasha to Kisumu at $3.6bn then later the 130km line from Kisumu to Malaba border in Uganda where Uganda is supposed to start.
However, Uganda’s phase one, running from Malaba to Kampala at 273km which is expected to cost $2.3bn shillings has been delayed.
Government argues that they are yet to access the funds after Exim Bank asked them to review the cost.
Minister of Works and Transport Monica Azuba says that Uganda has a plan to build its network from the Ugandan side whether from the Standard Gauge or Uganda Railways but will use badges between Kisumu and Port Bell and Majanji at the North East corner of Lake Victoria.
Azuba says that before they implement a plan; they have to look at how far Kenya is progressing.
Azuba says although the actual completion of the railway will last three and a half years, the minimum time for completion will be five years.
The State Minister of State for Works, Katumba Wamala said the problem they are facing is majorly financing. He says that Exim Bank does not want to fund an incomplete project. He says there should not be any fears that the project has been abandoned.
