Four EAC states boost Kenya-Uganda railway project in East Africa

Summary:

• Four East African Community (EAC) nations join Kenya and Uganda’s railway project to enhance trade. Ministers pledge to accelerate completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) sections. Kenya and Uganda commit to restarting construction on key SGR segments.

Four East African Community (EAC) member states – Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan – have thrown their weight behind a collaborative effort with Kenya and Uganda. Their aim? To advance a contemporary railway system, thereby streamlining the movement of goods along the Northern Corridor.

This significant decision transpired during a gathering of the Joint Ministerial Committee on SGR convened in Kenya’s capital, Mombasa, on Friday, May 3rd. In a subsequent communique, transport ministers from the aforementioned nations reaffirmed their dedication to expediting the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project’s remaining segments. These encompass the stretch from Naivasha in Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, DRC, and South Sudan. Recognized as a pivotal lifeline, the SGR holds the promise of significantly reducing transportation expenses and bolstering East Africa’s competitiveness, as articulated by Richard Kabonero, Uganda’s project coordinator.

Last July witnessed Kenya and Uganda revitalizing this once-stalled initiative to construct an SGR railway linking their territories. However, hurdles, particularly financial constraints, have impeded progress, notably preventing the extension of rail tracks beyond Naivasha in Kenya’s Central Rift region. With the recent agreement, Kenya has pledged to recommence construction on the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba and Kisumu-Malaba SGR sections, set to commence in July and September 2024, respectively. Meanwhile, Uganda has committed to initiating construction on the Malaba-Kampala segment come September, contingent upon resource availability and the finalization of negotiations with the designated Turkish contractor, Yapi Merkezi.