Uganda Hosts Regional Conference to Expedite SGR and Mbarara-Kisangani Road Projects

Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Uganda and other East African nations are urged to streamline their policies for the swift implementation of key infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). During a meeting in Kampala to discuss the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Agreement (NCTTA), Mr. Ivan Emmanuel Mwondha from the World Bank highlighted the hindrance to economic development posed by the high cost of transportation in the region.

Mwondha emphasized the importance of harmonizing policies to facilitate efficient economic systems, especially given the increased trade between East Africa and Eastern Asia. The potential GDP contribution for the Lake Victoria basin could reach up to $60 billion per annum through improved connectivity across the lake.

Officials from Kenya, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan are engaging in a five-day discussion on the implementation of NCTTA, aiming to facilitate transit cargo between the Kenyan port of Mombasa and member states. The comprehensive project includes the construction of the SGR railway, an oil pipeline, inland waterways, inland container depots, and interconnecting roads.

Canon Perez Wamburu, the SGR project coordinator, revealed that Uganda is in the process of procuring a contractor, Yapi Merkezi from Turkey, to start the actual construction of the standard gauge railway. Harmonizing standards and interoperability will be a priority for Uganda and Kenya officials.

State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama expressed Uganda’s commitment to providing funds and technical support for regional infrastructure flagship projects. He urged technical officials to devise smart plans and strategies with clear timelines for the efficient implementation of the Northern Corridor projects.

Ambassador Richard Kabonero, the National Coordinator of Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIPs), emphasized that the meeting aims to enhance coordination among member states, focusing on railways, roads, and inland waterways to reduce transport costs in the region.