UGANDA has signed a landmark agreement with Turkish construction firm Yapi Merkezi to build a 272-kilometre railway, marking a significant development in East Africa’s transport infrastructure. The deal, aimed at improving both speed and cargo capacity, will strengthen Uganda’s trade links with key regional routes, including the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa in Kenya.
The agreement was formalised in Kampala by Uganda’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Bageya Waiswa, and Yapi Merkezi Vice Chairman, Erdem Arioglu. Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, and Turkish Ambassador Fatih Ak were also in attendance to witness the signing.
Bageya Waiswa highlighted that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project would reduce transportation costs and boost regional trade. The railway will stretch from the Malaba border post with Kenya to Uganda’s capital, Kampala. It is expected to vastly improve cargo transport efficiency, replacing the older metre-gauge system, which has a narrower track width. The SGR’s broader gauge will allow for faster and more reliable cargo transport across East Africa.
Originally contracted to China Harbour Engineering Company, the project faced delays for eight years. Uganda has now turned to Yapi Merkezi to accelerate the construction and completion of the railway.
Turkish Ambassador Fatih Ak reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s infrastructure modernisation, leveraging its expertise in railway construction. In addition to the railway project, Turkish firm Polat Yol Yapi is working on the Muyembe-Nakapiripirit road, which will enhance Uganda’s connectivity to Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Levent Davisoglu, Uganda’s honorary consul in Istanbul, praised the project, noting Uganda’s strategic role as a crucial link within the East African region. This railway project is set to improve regional trade and contribute to Uganda’s economic growth by providing a faster, more cost-effective transport option.
