Uganda aims to begin constructing the standard gauge railway from Malaba to Kampala in the fiscal year 2023/24.
It was revealed during a ministerial meeting of the Cluster of Standard Gauge Railway Development, which brought together transport and infrastructure ministers from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
The conference, presided over by Uganda Minister for Works and Transport Katumba Wamala, sought an update on the status of the directions issued at the 14th Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIPs) Summit in Nairobi in June 2018.
With the Democratic Republic of the Congo becoming the newest member of the EAC (East African Community) member, the minister agreed to invite the country to participate in the SGR Cluster under NCIPs.
"The feasibility studies for the Kampala-Kigali section, Tororo-Gulu-Nimule section, and Nimule-Juba section have been completed," Wamala said in a statement.
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The region intends to build the SGR to aid the region's economic development by lowering transportation costs, which will contribute to lower business costs, making the area more competitive.
The new line is also projected to improve regional intra-trade by providing a smooth rail link between NCIP member countries.
Kenya has been operating SGR since June 2017, and the line has carried 6.1 million tons of goods, with revenue from cargo and passenger services totalling Ksh 15.3 billion.
Kenya's Road and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Rwanda Infrastructure Minister Dr Enest Nsabimana, and South Sudan Roads and Bridges Minister Simon Mijak Mijok attended the conference in Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday.
