Recently, Uganda and Kenya have finally reached an agreement on the key technical standards and policy positions for the construction of the Mombasa Kampala standard gauge railway, clearing technical barriers for this railway corridor connecting multiple countries in East Africa.  

Handshake protocols under different standards

Although Uganda and Kenya use different technological systems - Kenya adopts the Chinese technological system, while Uganda plans to use a system mainly based on European standards, both sides have achieved interoperability through engineering interface design and system adjustment, ensuring smooth connection of the railway at the Malaba Port. This breakthrough means that trains departing from Mombasa Port in the future can seamlessly enter Uganda and travel directly to the capital city of Kampala. The Permanent Secretary of Uganda's Ministry of Transport and Engineering stressed that standard coordination is not only a requirement for regional cooperation, but also included in the EPC contract signed between Uganda and the contractor Yapi Merkezi of Türkiye. The contract explicitly requires the contractor to ensure comprehensive integration between the Uganda Standard Gauge Railway and the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway at the Malaba connection point, covering track structure, power supply system, signal system, communication system, locomotives and vehicles, and operation management. Both parties agree to continue sharing technical data and planning information. Uganda's technical team, contractors, and consulting units will conduct on-site inspections in Kenya this month to deepen interface design and engineering preparation.  

Simultaneous promotion of land acquisition and early engineering

The land acquisition and compensation work for the railway corridor in Uganda is steadily progressing. At present, 9 out of 12 relevant administrative regions have completed the expropriation work, and Mukono, Wakiso, and Kampala are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. This progress has laid a solid foundation for the comprehensive commencement of the project. Under the authorization of the limited commencement notice, early construction has already begun. The preliminary and detailed design, construction of the rail sleeper factory, and establishment of the construction camp are proceeding in an orderly manner, fully preparing for the official start of construction in April next year. The progress of these preliminary works marks that the project has entered the substantive construction stage from the planning stage. The Kenya Standard Gauge Railway is an important railway construction project in East Africa, mainly including the Mombasa Nairobi Railway, the first phase of the Nairobi Malaba Railway, and subsequent extension projects. China Road and Bridge Corporation is responsible for the design and construction of the first phase of the Mombasa Nairobi Railway and the Nairobi Malaba Railway, with a total length of 592 kilometers. It is an international mainline railway that adopts Chinese standards, Chinese technology, Chinese management, Chinese equipment construction, and Chinese operation and maintenance.  

From financial difficulties to restarting

The planned total length of Uganda's standard gauge railway exceeds 1700 kilometers, with the first phase being the Malaba Kampala East Line, which is 272 kilometers long and connects the Ugandan capital Kampala with Malaba City on the Kenyan border. In the future, it will be extended to neighboring countries such as Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Looking back at the project history, in 2015, Uganda signed an agreement with Chinese companies to develop the 272 kilometer Malaba Kampala East Line, with an estimated investment of 2.2 billion US dollars. However, due to financial issues, the Ukrainian side ultimately terminated the agreement. In October 2024, Uganda awarded the project contract to Yapi Merkezi, Türkiye, and held a groundbreaking ceremony in November of the same year. However, due to the delayed implementation of financing and repeated delays in project commencement, it was ultimately confirmed that the project will officially start in April 2026. The construction of this railway will not only greatly improve Uganda's transportation infrastructure, but also strengthen economic ties in East Africa, promote regional trade and personnel exchanges, and inject new vitality into the development of the East African Community.Editor/Yang Meiling