Nearly a year after its high-profile launch, Uganda’s multi-trillion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Tororo remains visibly stalled, leaving behind an abandoned site, unresolved compensation claims and mounting anxiety among displaced residents.
The open land in Kasoli Village, Tororo Municipality — once home to hundreds of households and a vibrant trading centre — now lies overgrown with thick vegetation.
The area was cleared to pave way for the railway terminal, but months later there is no active construction on site.
The project’s first phase, the 272-kilometre Malaba–Kampala line, was awarded to Turkish construction firm Yapı Merkezi at a cost of Shs10.8 trillion.
The railway is expected to connect Uganda to Kenya’s SGR network at Malaba, reducing transport costs, easing pressure on roads and boosting regional trade across East and Central Africa.
In 2024, President Yoweri Museveni officially launched the construction works, describing the railway as a transformative infrastructure investment critical to Uganda’s economic takeoff.
But nearly a year later, the ground in Kasoli tells a different story. The once-cleared land designated for the modern railway terminal has reverted to bushland. What was meant to symbolise industrial progress now presents safety concerns.
Residents say the abandoned space has become a hideout for criminals and a breeding ground for snakes, forcing women and children to avoid the area after dusk.
“It is frustrating that since 2024, when the President said construction would begin immediately, up to now nothing has happened,” said Peter Ekikina, President of the Tororo Municipal Development Forum.
David Batanga, Chairperson of Kasoli Village, warns that the delay is no longer just an inconvenience but a security risk.
“Snakes are there. Women cannot move past 6pm. We are asking SGR authorities to come and at least slash this area,” Batanga said.
Beyond security fears, the stalled project has disrupted livelihoods. Before demolition, Kasoli hosted a bustling trading centre and a market that generated revenue for Tororo Municipality.
Following compensation and relocation, businesses collapsed and residents scattered.
“There was a booming trading centre there. When the houses were demolished, people scattered. There was a market that used to generate revenue, but it is no longer there,” Ekikina said.
Local leaders argue that while the community sacrificed for national development, the anticipated benefits have yet to materialise.
While government maintains that 98 percent of project-affected persons have been compensated, local leaders contest this figure. Batanga claims that at least 52 individuals remain unpaid, particularly those who were expected to receive compensation in subsequent phases.
“These are individuals who gave way for the housing estate but were expected to be paid in the second phase. Up to now, they have not been paid,” he said.
The discrepancy between official figures and local claims raises questions about transparency and record-keeping in the compensation process.
Tororo Resident District Commissioner Sadiq Bategana insists the project has not stalled and that the contractor is ready to mobilise.
“If you have been following the media in the last two weeks, the contractor is ready to start the work. There is nothing to worry about. Construction can begin at any time,” Bategana said.
However, by press time, the SGR coordination office in Tororo remained closed, and known telephone contacts were unreachable.
Government officials say funds have been released to facilitate mobilisation and camp setup, but visible ground activity remains minimal.
Uganda’s SGR project has faced years of financial and logistical challenges, including funding negotiations and alignment with regional railway networks. The Malaba–Kampala section is considered critical to linking Uganda to Kenya’s operational SGR and enhancing cargo movement from the port of Mombasa.
With such strategic importance, delays at the Tororo terminal site risk fuelling public scepticism about implementation timelines.
For residents of Kasoli, the issue is no longer about long-term economic transformation; it is about immediate safety, transparency and accountability.
As the bush continues to reclaim the cleared land, many are left wondering whether the promise of a modern railway will materialise soon or remain another stalled mega-project on paper.