KAMPALA.The long-awaited physical construction of the multibillion dollar Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will commence in April next year , government has announced .
The SGR project was unveiled in 2014 by the Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) For over 10 years, SGR construction did not commence in Uganda due to financial constraints. In both Kenya and Tanzania , the project is already progressing well .
Speaking at the first SGR national content symposium at Speke Resort Munyonyo,Kampala on August 29, Works and Transport Minister Gen.Edward Katumba Wamala revealed that all is set to kick start the long-awaited project
“Today, I am pleased to report that we have turned that corner. The contract is in partial implementation; the contractor is on the ground, and preliminary and enabling works are underway,” he said.
SGR is part of the Northern Corridor Integration Project (NCIP), intending to stretch from Mombasa through Nairobi in Kenya to Malaba, reaching Kampala in Uganda, and further extending to connect Kigali in Rwanda and Juba in South Sudan.
Gen. Katumba said the government has so far acquired 60 percent of the right of way for the project and the Finance Ministry has provided funding for the numerous preparatory activities that make construction possible.
“I wish to acknowledge the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. Through their steadfast support, over 60 percent of the required right-of-way has been acquired,” the minister said .
In November 2024, President Museveni launched SGR construction in Uganda at its starting point in Malaba, Tororo district.
Project Coordinator Canon Eng. Perez Wamburu said that the contractor, Yapi Merkezi, from Turkey is on site carrying out preliminary works, including surveys and investigations, preliminary designs, setting up camps, and logistics, among others. The project is project is expected to create 20,000 jobs –both direct and indirect .
Last month , government announced that the contractor , Turkish engineering firm Yapı Merkezi had commenced geotechnical surveys and infrastructure mapping along the proposed 273-kilometre Malaba–Kampala Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) corridor.
This marked the first tangible steps toward construction of one of Uganda’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.