The Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) has raised the alarm over increasing safety incidents and rampant vandalism along its railway lines, even as the agency pushes forward with ambitious expansion and rehabilitation projects.
Speaking at a press briefing, URC Managing Director Benon Kajuna emphasised the urgent need for public cooperation in safeguarding railway infrastructure.
“Accidents are rare but devastating when they occur,” he said, citing three fatal incidents reported since the beginning of the year, including a recent tragedy at Nakawa where a woman was struck by a train.
The URC attributed these accidents to pedestrian misuse of railway reserves and reckless behaviour at level crossings. Notably, a widely circulated video showed a boda boda rider attempting to cross in front of an oncoming train in Malaba, leading to a deadly collision.
Kajuna also decried the growing issue of vandalism and theft of railway materials, naming Soroti as a “hub for criminal activity.”
In March, authorities arrested several individuals linked to the theft of 95 sleepers from the Tororo-Gulu line. Meanwhile, ballast stones are also being stolen in Kampala and Wakiso for personal construction projects, while bolts and fishplates are being removed in Mukono, Kawolo, and Jinja, actions that have directly caused derailments and accidents.
“These acts not only threaten lives but derail our entire operation and inflate our maintenance costs,” Kajuna warned.
The URC is also requesting Shs 10 billion annually to stabilise its fuel reserves, arguing that irregular funding and outdated infrastructure are hampering its ability to operate safely and efficiently.
Kajuna appealed to the public to avoid walking along railway tracks and to adhere strictly to guidelines at level crossings.