Uganda and Kenya are collaborating on three major transport projects to strengthen trade and investment links within the region and globally. The projects include extending the standard gauge railway from Naivasha to Malaba and Kampala, dualing the Nairobi-Kampala highway, and expanding the oil pipeline from Eldoret to Kampala.
Speaking at the inauguration of a $500 million steel mill in Tororo, Kenyan President William Ruto highlighted that these transport upgrades aim to speed up the movement of goods and people between the two nations. Both Presidents Ruto and Yoweri Museveni agreed to jointly invest in the projects.
President Museveni criticised the current transport system, describing it as "irrational," with narrow roads shared by cars, trucks, and fuel tankers. He emphasised the need to separate these transport modes, suggesting that fuel should travel by pipeline, cargo by railway, and roads reserved for light vehicles.
He also expressed his support for President Ruto's vision and confirmed joint investments in projects along borders with Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan. The planned infrastructure improvements are expected to enhance investments and exports by reducing transit time and increasing efficiency.