LUZIRA.Works and Transport Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has reassured sector players that MV Kaawa ,a critical vessel for Uganda’s regional trade through the Central Corridor will soon resume normal operations .
Inspecting the vessel at Luzira Port Bell last Friday, Gen. Katumba said repair works on MV Kaawa currently stand at 95 percent and very soon it will be ready to operate on the Port Bell – Mwanza (Tanzania) and Port Bell – Kisumu (Kenya) routes.
“Sea trials set for early November and with the resumption in service, the vessel will revitalize water transport on Lake Victoria. We want to maximize the potential of Lake Victoria as part of the multimodal transport system to support imports & exports flow. The route is already productive and we’re seeing companies like Roofings using the route to Mwanza,” Gen. Katumba said
The works are undertaken by Southern Engineering Co.Ltd (SECO) under direct supervision of Uganda Railways Corporation .
MV Kaawa, a cargo-only vessel, has for over a year been undergoing extensive maintenance that include steel works, an overhaul of the portside engine and fuel injection system, and the replacement of the hydrophore tank.
The refurbishment aims to boost cargo movement efficiency, reduce transport costs, and offer a low-emission alternative to road transport.
According to URC, MV Kaawa and its sister vessel MV Pamba can each carry up to 880 tonnes of cargo using roll-on wagons and up to 1,200 tonnes on deck.
A single trip from Port Bell to Mwanza takes approximately 18 hours, while the Kisumu route takes 16 hours significantly faster than most road alternatives.
“Water transport is more cost-effective, with freight charges as low as \$15 per tonne. It’s also environmentally friendly and helps us tap into the Dar es Salaam port via Mwanza,” Ssengendo added.
In a further move to enhance cargo handling capacity, URC also announced the opening of bids for the supply of 100 high-capacity wagons. Ten companies submitted bids out of the 42 issued with documents.
The procurement is expected to improve the corporation’s logistics capabilities.
Currently, URC’s water and rail network is used to transport a variety of exports including timber, iron sheets, cosmetics, tyres, spirits, human medicine, and electric poles. On the import side, major cargo includes rice, wheat, animal feeds, general merchandise, and iron sheets.