The Chinese Railway and Bridge Cooperation has announced that the rehabilitation of the $301 million Kampala-Malaba metre gauge railway line is almost finished, with 95 percent of the work already completed. The project, funded by the African Development Bank Group, began in February and is set to be finished next month.
The first phase of the project focused on the engineering design for the Kampala multimodal hub and the renovation of the Kampala-Namanve and Tororo-Malaba sections, covering a total distance of 28 kilometers. In the second phase, the project included the Environmental Study and Impact Assessment, the acquisition of workshop equipment and rolling stock, and the rehabilitation of the Namanve-Tororo, Port Bell line, Jinja Pier line, and Kampala-Kyengera sections, spanning a distance of 245 kilometers.
By connecting Kampala to the Port of Mombasa in Kenya, the railway plays a crucial role in the Northern Corridor of the East African Community. It is anticipated that the completion of this project will enhance railway services and lead to reduced transportation costs.
To counteract vandalism along the rehabilitated line, the Uganda Railways Corporation plans to hire permanent inspectors and install sensors to detect any damaged areas. The corporation, together with the country's defense forces and local leaders, is determined to put an end to vandalism, as each repaired rail costs $8.
Furthermore, as part of future plans, passenger hubs will be constructed and a concrete slipper line will be laid from Mukono to Kampala, Mukono to Kyengera, and Kampala to Port Bell.