Construction of Uganda Standard Gauge Railway Project Starts

Uganda has officially commenced construction on its highly anticipated Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project, with Turkish firm Yapı Merkezi taking the lead. The announcement was made by Minister of State for Information and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabyanga.

Though the project, initially launched in 2013, has faced several delays, the Minister said that the government assures the public that measures are in place to compensate those affected by the construction.

According to Kabyanga, efforts are being made to address and compensate those who would be harmed by the construction.

The Ugandan government prioritized security and transportation in its 2023/2024 budget. "As part of this project, the government has bought a 161-kilometer railway line that runs between Tororo and Mayuge,' Godfrey Kabyanga said.

"The finding of major oil deposits in the Bunyoro region of Western Uganda is projected to promote economic activity along the Tororo-Pakwach and Kampala-Kasese rail lines and the government is accelerating its plans to begin commercial oil production," he added.

The Standard Gauge Railway is projected to play an important role in Uganda’s economy. The country is endowed with over 80 minerals, including iron ore, phosphates, and copper, which are impossible to extract without good rail transportation.

Kabyanga noted that the new railway will also allow access to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s massive mineral resources, which include iron ore, aluminum, and copper. This will result in a more efficient transit path to international markets in China, India, Europe, and the US.

"Currently, around 650,000 metric tonnes of freight are transported annually from the Port of Mombasa via Uganda to Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This volume is likely to increase dramatically with the new railway, maybe by more than 20 times," says Kabyanga.