Uganda says it is on track to build its side of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). The railway project will connect Uganda to Kenya at the Malaba Border point.
Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda are all involved in the SGR, which forms part of the larger Northern Corridor Infrastructure Projects initiative. CGTN’s Michael Baleke has more
Kenya plans on extending its SGR project to Kisumu, the western part of the nation.
Construction is expected to begin in 2018. Project will link Northern Uganda to South Sudan and Rwanda
Uganda has prioritized the 273Kms Malaba – Kampala route, which is expected to cost $2.3 billion.
Project authorities say there in advanced stages of a financial closure with China’s EXIM Bank.
The railway project has delayed for years over negotiations on set conditions.
Approvals have been subject to conditions like ensuring that the government of Uganda undertakes the land acquisition process.
And a guarantee from the Kenyan government, that the section of the railway will reach the Kenya – Uganda border town of Malaba.
Kenya has already completed the work between Mombasa and Nairobi, with plans of a possible extension to the Lake Victoria city of Kisumu.
Available reports indicate that over 6o per cent of the project land has been acquired and compensation of the affected persons is on-going.
Project authorities say if all goes as planned, construction is expected to begin sometime in 2018.
The project is expected to extend to Northern Uganda through to South Sudan and later to Rwanda through Western Uganda.
