Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) is moving swiftly to mobilize €2.7 billion Malaba–Kampala Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, set to transform regional logistics.
Musa Francis Ecweru, the Minister of State for Works and Transport, made the remarks during a high-level engagement between the Government of Uganda delegation and an appraisal mission from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
According to Ecweru, this railway is transformative for Uganda and the wider region.
“Time is of the essence; we should close financing early and proceed without delay,” he noted.
Dr Issahaq Umar Iddrisu, Regional Hub Manager who led the IsDB delegation, reaffirmed the Bank’s engagement in the appraisal process, noting that discussions were progressing toward financial closure.
Officially launched on November 21st, 2024 by His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Malaba–Kampala SGR forms a critical segment of the Northern Corridor, linking Uganda to the Kenyan coastline and global shipping routes.
Once completed, the modern standard gauge line is expected to streamline cargo movement from the border town of Malaba to Kampala, cutting freight turnaround times and lowering the cost of doing business.
The SGR is designed to shift bulk cargo from road to rail, easing pressure on highways while delivering efficiency gains for traders.
“Our transport system is irrational. Roads are overcrowded with cars and cargo. This leads to slow movement, increased traffic, and damaged roads. To solve this, cargo must move to railways and waterways, while petroleum products will be transported through pipelines,” President Museveni said.
The government shows readiness to move into full implementation, revealing that more than 60 percent of the right-of-way has already been acquired, while early works have been fully financed by the state.
Kampala is leveraging the SGR as a regional trade engine, using rail infrastructure to boost industrial development, enhance supply chains, and reinforce Uganda’s position in East African commerce.
