Museveni mesmerised by Kenya's SGR

President Museveni was left spellbound in Mombasa Kenya after he was given a ride using the country’s Madaraka Express, on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

Museveni who is in Mombasa, Kenya for a two-day working visit becomes the first foreign president to ride on the railway.

While speaking during a joint press conference at State House in Mombasa, Museveni said he can’t wait to show Ugandans the moments he has captured.

“You (President Kenyatta) have given me the honour of being the first president to ride on the new railway; I will put it in my album and show it to all the Ugandans,” he said.

Museveni lavished praise on Kenyatta for executing the SGR which he said will considerably reduce time on cargo from Kampala and Nairobi.

“When the SGR is finished, it will take 24 hours from here (Mombasa) to Kampala. That means Uhuru and his government have reinforced their support for the hinterland economies and the economy of Kenya. This is enlightenment and it is what should be done all the time. Our economies will not grow if we don’t solve the issues of movement.”

 

Museveni said that it foolhardy for countries to behave as if they are doing a favour to business people by allowing their goods to transit very fast.

"Before President Uhuru’s time, some of the people at the port said they were doing Uganda a favour by handling our goods and so we had to come and beg them,” he said.

Museveni said he was positive that in the coming years, cargo, especially fuel would move from the roads to a much cheaper, faster and safer means using the railway so that the roads remain for “drunkards”.

On his part, Kenyatta said: “Our delegations have had a meaningful discussion in terms of promoting trade, free movement of goods, services and people across our boarders and our people to people interactions.”

“This visit reaffirms the very close ties that bind our two nations (Kenya & Uganda); as East Africans we share a common history, heritage and aspirations,” he added.