President Yoweri Museveni has officially launched the construction of the 275-kilometer Ugandan section of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), marking a major step towards connecting Uganda to Kenya’s Port of Mombasa.
This project is seen as a key milestone in East Africa’s efforts to transform its infrastructure and boost regional trade integration.
The SGR is expected to improve transportation across the region, supporting economic growth and increasing trade among East African countries.
The contract for building the Ugandan section of the railway was awarded to the Turkish company Yapi Merkezi, at a cost of $3 billion (approximately Ksh 388.7 billion).
The new railway line will be able to transport up to 1,000 tonnes of cargo per trip, which will help solve many logistical challenges that the region faces today.
For landlocked countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the railway will provide a faster, cheaper, and more efficient way to move goods, boosting trade and economic cooperation.
Initially, Uganda had considered a rail connection to Tanzania, but President Museveni shifted focus back to Kenya.
This change in direction was made after Uganda experienced delays with Tanzania’s railway project.
By linking Uganda to Kenya’s Port of Mombasa, Uganda will have better access to international markets, improving its economic ties with Kenya and other neighboring countries.
Kenya’s own SGR network is already in place between Mombasa and Naivasha.
Plans to extend the railway to Kisumu and Malaba will begin in January 2025, at a cost of Ksh 648 billion.
This extension is a part of Kenya’s broader vision to develop a regional transport network that will further facilitate trade and connectivity within East Africa.
The collaboration between Uganda and Kenya on the SGR will strengthen the region’s infrastructure and help reduce the cost of doing business.
During the launch of the Ugandan section, Museveni spoke about the importance of infrastructure in improving trade.
He explained that poor infrastructure lowers trade volumes by 40%, which keeps Africa’s share in global trade below 5%.
Intra-African trade is also very low, at under 15%, compared to other continents where the trade share is 40-60%.
He emphasized that the SGR will help reduce travel time between Mombasa and Kampala from 14 hours to under 10 hours, making the region’s transport system more efficient.
By connecting Uganda to Kenya and the larger East African region, the SGR is expected to unlock new opportunities for intra-African trade.
Museveni highlighted how regional integration can help African countries rely less on distant export markets, which will strengthen the continent’s economic position.
He noted that modern infrastructure projects like the SGR are key to Africa’s future, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable way to move goods.
The SGR project is a significant investment that has the potential to reshape East Africa’s economy.
It will not only improve trade within the region but also help attract more investments in other sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture.
As Uganda and Kenya work together to build this vital infrastructure, the SGR is set to become a central piece of the region’s economic transformation and a model for future projects in Africa.
