Summary:

• President Museveni welcomed Italian investors’ plans to build a railway line from Tororo to Majanji, diverting traffic away from Kampala. The investors also aim to establish a training academy for Ugandans in railway technology.

KAMPALA, (Examiner) b – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently convened with a delegation of investors hailing from Italy at State House-Entebbe. Led by Mauro Massoni, the Ambassador of Italy to Uganda, the delegation expressed their intent to finance and execute the construction of a railway line stretching from Tororo to Majanji, alongside the establishment of a port at Majanji.

President Museveni enthusiastically embraced the proposal, emphasizing that the railway line would effectively handle traffic originating from Northern Uganda and neighboring regions. He underscored the significance of diverting such traffic away from Kampala, suggesting direct routes to Kenya or Tanzania. While acknowledging the government’s plans to kickstart construction on the Standard Gauge Railway linking Kampala to the Kenyan border, he noted the prolonged timeline for the Tanzanian counterpart, thus necessitating the utilization of the lake route via Majanji Island to Tororo.

Bloise Vincenzo, representing the Italian investors, added to the discussion by disclosing their desire to establish an academy aimed at training Ugandans in cutting-edge railway construction and maintenance technologies.

The meeting also saw the presence of Hon. Evelyn Anite, Minister of State for Investment and Privatization, among others.