UGANDA RAILWAY MUSEUM: A Place to Explore Uganda’s Railway Heritage

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Railway Museum
Uganda Railway Museum in Jinja City. Courtesy photo

The Uganda railway museum is a national railway museum located along the Jinja-Iganga highway at the railway station in Jinja City.

The railway museum, a one of its kind in Uganda and second in East Africa, was launched on March 16, 2022, by the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities. The main aim of the museum is to highlight the role of railways in Uganda’s history and nation building.

The railway museum diversifies a range of tourist attractions in with a collection of artifacts like lamps, railway tools that highlight life before, during colonial era and railways after independence.

The museum has a variety of exhibits including locomotives and train cars from different eras, antique tools and equipment used in railway construction, historical photographs and documents.

Tools
Some of the antique tools and equipment found at Uganda Railway Museum. Courtesy photo

At the museum, you get to learn the history of the Uganda railway line, the many stations that served Uganda, the incredible story about the railway construction and the lives of people who used trains back in the day.

There’s a cafeteria at the Uganda railway museum whose menu is themed on the railway concept. Guests can grab a bite of their favorite foods, snacks and the rich Ugandan coffee as well as soft drinks.

The construction of the Uganda railway was not an easy feat.  Thousands of laborers tailored under challenging conditions, they battled against unforgiving terrains, got attacked by wild animals but they were still united to construct the great lunatic express.

As the railway progressed, its impact became evident, towns and settlements developed along its path, transforming the once remote areas into vibrant centres of commerce and culture.

This story which goes beyond wildlife, painting a vivid picture of Uganda’s history is preserved and presented at the Uganda railway museum.

Please visit to explore this exciting story of Uganda’s railway and also discover the enormous contribution of railways to Uganda’s history and the uncelebrated memories kept alive at the Uganda railway museum in Jinja.