Railway transport to ease trade between Uganda and Kenya

The establishment of a railway link between Uganda and Kenya is expected to reduce the cost of commodities through reduced transport expenses.

In 2017,Uganda and Kenyan governments embarked on a joint initiative to improve trade between the two countries beginning with establishment of a one border post in Malaba that has seen tremendous improvement in clearing of goods and persons.

Yet there are still some bottlenecks at the border .

The minister  for Works and Transport Monica Azuba Ntege said the two governments have finalised talks to enable the move goods direct from Mombasa To kampala by rail.

According to the plan, goods will be transported using the standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Naivasha where they will be shifted to the meter gauge through Malaba as compared to the past where goods were transported by trucks.

She revealed that the Kenyan government has offered Ugandan land in Naivasha to establish a container port.

The two governments also committed to revamp the old meter gauge railway on either side to Naivasha where it will be connected to the standard gauge railway.

Yet like any other development, using the railway to transport goods will translate into reduced business for truck owners and drivers and could lead to unemployment.

The MP for Tororo county Fredrick Angura appealed to government to develop coping mechanisms for those whose livelihood will be affected by the new developments.