In a recent tumultuous meeting at State House in Entebbe, Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) made a resolute stand against the proposal to implement a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) system in the country.
The meeting, attended by top URC bosses, Ministry of Works officials (who advocated for SGR), and chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, saw tensions flare as URC executives vehemently rejected the idea, citing a history of mismanagement, financial setbacks, and the imperative of preserving the integrity of Uganda’s existing railway infrastructure.
“Our highly placed source in State House,” said URC managers, “were proud to tell the President that the old railway line ‘has been rehabilitated and is now doing very, very good.'”
The meeting unfolded against a backdrop of controversy surrounding URC’s handling of procurement and operational matters.
Notably, URC faced scrutiny over the purchase of locomotives that were found to be incompatible with existing railway infrastructure, resulting in significant financial losses estimated at 48 billion shillings.
URC is headed by David Musoke Bulegas as acting CEO, Stephen Wakasenza as the chief commercial officer, and Sarah Nambasa as the corporation secretary.
According to the source, the trio were hell-bent to oppossing on the proposal to resume SGR in Uganda.
The group argued that the existing narrow-gauge railway network, despite its age, remained functional and efficient, serving as a vital lifeline for transportation and trade across the country. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the financial viability and logistical complexities associated with the SGR project, particularly in light of procurement mishaps and operational setbacks.
In 2022, the Finance Minister, Hon. Matia Kasaija, said the government had put the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) venture on hold and had instead turned attention to revamping the old meter-gauge railway network until unresolved issues with Kenya and China had been concluded.
“It is apparent the SGR is going to take us a lot of time to complete. First, we have to wait for Kenya to reach at the Malaba [border] point then we can start,” Kasaija said.
He reasoned that the government, in the interim, was refurbishing the old railway line as “an alternative” to lower transportation costs for traders.
Uganda and Kenya first agreed to construct the SGR in 2008, but the arrangements were only concretized in 2012.
Kenya has since constructed the 120km line from Nairobi to Naivasha at $1.7b (Shs6 trillion) to be followed by a 266km line from Naivasha to Kisumu port at $3.6b (Shs13 trillion), and later embark on the 107km line connecting from Kisumu to Malaba border with Uganda which was expected to cost $1.7b (Shs6 trillion).
Tanzania last week started to test its first, maiden, Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) electric train along the Dar-es-Salaam and Morogoro section.
The Tanzania SGR hit a speed of 160Km/h compared to Kenya’s SGR that uses diesel and can move up to 120Km/h.
While in Uganda, URC announced the resumption of passenger trains from Namanve in Mukono district to Kampala at a cost of shs 2000 as transport fare.
Last year, the former URC Managing Director, Stanley Sendegeya, was also embroiled in legal troubles, having been charged with forgery and remanded to Luzira Prison.
The stormy meeting at State House underscored the deep divisions within Uganda’s transportation sector regarding the path forward for railway development.
While proponents of the SGR project advocated for modernization and progress, URC stood firm in its commitment to preserving tradition and ensuring the continuity of service for Ugandan citizens.
In the aftermath of the meeting, URC continued its efforts to rehabilitate and revitalize the existing railway network in Uganda. With a focus on upgrading infrastructure and improving operational efficiency, URC aimed to enhance connectivity, reduce transportation costs, and stimulate economic growth across the country.
As debates over Uganda’s railway development rage on, one thing is clear: the future of transportation in Uganda hinges on a delicate balance between tradition and innovation, progress and pragmatism.
With URC at the helm, the nation stands poised to chart a course forward that honors the rich history while embracing the opportunities of tomorrow.
Efforts to reach Stephen Wakasenza, URC acting CEO, were futile as his known mobile number was unavailable.
An officer at the customer care desk, when contacted, said all her superiors were holed up in a meeting.