Business 21 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ruto and Museveni Launch Key SGR Section to Revive East African Rail Network
Kenyan President William Ruto and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni attended the groundbreaking of the 107km Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway section, a vital link in the Mombasa-Kampala corridor set for completion by 2028. The project aims to slash travel times and freight costs, boosting regional trade and integration. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ruto-museveni-seek-rail-revival-as-kenya-uganda-launch-key-sgr-link-5398390
Leaders from Kenya and Uganda marked a milestone with the launch of a crucial Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension, aiming to resurrect the region’s aging rail infrastructure.
At the event in Kisumu County, Kenya’s President William Ruto highlighted the 107km Kisumu-Malaba stretch as part of a nearly 1,000km rail line from Mombasa to Uganda’s border. This will connect to Uganda’s planned 272km Malaba-Kampala line, forming a trade backbone for the East African Community (EAC).
Ruto linked the initiative to the historic Uganda Railway from colonial times, which declined post-independence due to neglect and the rise of road transport. The new SGR seeks to reverse this by offering faster, cheaper logistics.
Under a 2025 agreement, the full Nairobi-Kampala link targets 2028 completion, cutting travel from 14 hours to four and freight costs by 35%. Kenya’s expansion costs over $5.5 billion, while Uganda’s section is estimated at $3 billion, with financing still needed.
Existing SGR segments have already moved 15 million passengers and 45 million tonnes of freight. Ruto noted benefits for farmers, linking products like tea, dairy, grains, and fish to markets more efficiently, while creating jobs and fostering integration.
Uganda’s portion lags behind, but both leaders see the project as a foundation for future prosperity and EAC unity.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)