press release
President Yoweri Museveni has today launched the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway-line at a ceremony witnessed by the regional visiting leaders and representatives of the countries in the region.
The visiting Heads of State and other delegations include the President of Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame and that of South Sudan Mr. Salva Kiir.
The President of Kenya is represented by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Engineer Micheal Kamau while the the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mr. Abdiweli Shiekh Ahmed, is represented by his Minister and Legal Adviser, Dr. Fassil Hahom.
Burundi is represented by the President of that country's Senate, Hon. Gabriel Ntisezerana. Also present at the ceremony was the Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) Ms. Jessica Eriyo.
The Standard Gauge Railway which is part of the Northern Corridor Integrated Projects, will start from the Port of Mombasa through Nairobi in Kenya to Kampala. It will also traverse the Tororo - Gulu to Nimule up to Juba route in South Sudan and also from Kampala to Kasese on to Mpondwe in Western Uganda on to Kigali and also from Pakwach to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border and again from Mpodwe to the DRC border.
The Railway line will be constructed by the Uganda Defence People's Forces (UPDF) Brigade and the Chinese Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The project is slated to be completed by 2018. Neighbouring Kenya launched the building of her Standard Gauge Railway line in October 2013.
The modern high capacity, reliable, safe and affordable railway line will enable trains travel at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour and will reduce the number of days it takes to transport goods from Mombasa to Kampala to only 2 instead of the current 14 days.
President Museveni, who informed his guests on the genesis of adopting the concept of constructing the SGR, highly commended regional leaders for accepting his idea adding that it will greatly boost the economies of the region.
"I am happy that our countries are now working together. When countries cooperate, we are on the right track," he observed.
President Museveni also thanked the Government of China and its agencies for incurring all the huge loans for various projects but was optimistic that in the next 2 to 3 years, Uganda will be able to stand on its own feet with the oil money. ENDS