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Tororo-Gulu railway upgrade faces delay

Minister of Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala [3rd left] interacts with Tororo District LC5 chairperson, Mr John Okeya during the groundbreaking ceremony of Tororo-Gulu meter gauge railway on August 4, 2023. Photo | Joseph Omollo

What you need to know:

  • The Tororo Municipality MP, Mr Yeri Apollo Ofwono, appealed to the Uganda Railway Corporation to consider reintroducing passenger trains to operate besides the cargo train.

The rehabilitation, aimed at boosting trade, is facing delays due to heavy rains, with completion now expected by the end of the year.

The rehabilitation of the 375-kilometre Tororo-Gulu metre gauge railway, a project expected to boost cross-border trade, is facing delays due to natural calamities, Monitor has learnt. 

In 2023, the government earmarked Shs200 billion towards the rehabilitation of the railway line.

The rehabilitation, which started in July 2023, and was expected to be complete in July 2025, is being undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation, a Chinese company. 

During a routine monitoring exercise by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr Waiswa Bageya, at the weekend, Mr Wu Yaguang, the project manager of China Road and Bridges Corporation, indicated that unforeseen challenges such as heavy rains have slowed progress.

 “We wished to have heeded to the contract timeline but our efforts were bogged down by challenges beyond our control. The harsh natural calamities such as heavy rains have consumed much of our time and resources. We wish to request to be given up to the end of this year and we shall be able to hand over the complete project,” Mr Wu said.

The project aims to lower transportation costs and enhance trade between Uganda and neighbouring countries such as South Sudan and DR Congo. Currently, construction progress stands at approximately 55 percent. 

Mr Wu said the railway line from Tororo to Kumi is ready for handover. Meanwhile, work is ongoing along the Kumi-Gulu stretch, focusing on earthworks, culvert installation, drainage improvements, steel bridge rehabilitation, and the construction of a multi-cell box culvert at Awoja River.

The refurbishment of the railway line is part of the infrastructural improvement programme to meet the long-term development strategy as outlined in the National Development Plan.

 The government anticipates that if rehabilitation is completed in time, a minimum of 500 metric tonnes of cargo will be transported through it during the Financial Year 2025/2026 and also the line will support the oil industry.

Speaking during the 62nd Independence celebrations at Busikho Primary Teachers College in Busia District in October 2024, President Museveni said the rehabilitation of the metre gauge railway from Malaba to Gulu and Arua is almost complete.

“The railway will reduce transport costs and this will make it easier for businesses to make profits. I challenge the people of eastern Uganda to position themselves and tap opportunities associated with the establishment of railway transport,” he said.

Leaders say

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr Waiswa Bageya, said the government’s would consider the request to extend the contract but appealed to the contractor to expedite the works so that the government can achieve its objective of spurring economic development.

 “The contractor should expedite the works to allow the transport infrastructure to resume the operations to save government roads from heavy cargo trucks,” he said.

Mr Benon Kajuna, the director of transport in the Ministry of Works and Transport, commended the contractor for employing local people.

The Tororo Municipality MP, Mr Yeri Apollo Ofwono, appealed to the Uganda Railway Corporation to consider reintroducing passenger trains to operate besides the cargo train.

“By doing so, the cost of trade will become cheap as it used to be when the railway used to be active,” he said.