SGR Connecting Tanzania and Burundi
The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has signed a contract for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) segments 7 and 8, linking Uvinza in Tanzania to Musongati in Burundi. The 282-kilometre railway includes 240 km of the main track and 42 km of passing loops. The signing ceremony took place at the SGR John Pombe Magufuli Station in Dar es Salaam.
The contract was signed between the Government of Tanzania (through TRC) and the Government of Burundi (through the Ministry of Infrastructure), in partnership with a consortium of Chinese companies, CREGC (China Railway Engineering Group Co. LTD) and CREDC (China Railway Engineering Design and Consulting Group Co. LTD). The project is valued at US$2.154 billion and has a 72-month timeline, which includes a 12-month observation period.
SGR Strengthens Regional Connectivity
Tanzania’s Minister of Transport, Prof. Makame Mbarawa, described the agreement as a key milestone in advancing the African Union’s 2026 Agenda for regional rail integration. The project will feature a 1-km rail and road bridge connecting Tanzania and Burundi, seven railway stations, and a cargo terminal in Musongati.
The railway will be built in two sections:
- Uvinza to Malagarasi – 180 km
- Malagarasi to Musongati – 102 km
The total cost of the project is estimated at TZS 5.6 trillion.
Mbarawa highlighted the economic impact of SGR development in Tanzania, noting that more than 30,000 jobs have already been created. The project has also injected over TZS 350 billion into the local economy, with subcontracts valued at approximately TZS 3.7 trillion awarded to Tanzanian firms.
Expanding Tanzania’s Railway Network
TRC Director-General Masanja Kungu Kadogosa confirmed that this contract is part of the second phase of Tanzania’s SGR expansion, following the signing of the Tabora-Kigoma section in December 2022. With the Uvinza-Musongati contract now in place, three out of the four planned sections in the second phase are under development.
Kadogosa reaffirmed TRC’s commitment to implementing President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of linking Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC. The Tabora-Kigoma section is already 7.12% complete, and the Uvinza-Musongati project is now officially underway. Meanwhile, Burundi and the DRC are conducting feasibility studies for a rail link from Musongati to Kindu in the DRC.
Partnership with China’s Railway Engineering Firms
Representatives from CREGC and CREDC expressed gratitude to the Government of Tanzania for entrusting them with the project, stating that the railway will enhance economic and social ties between Tanzania and Burundi. They also emphasized their longstanding collaboration with Africa, referencing their construction of the 1,560-km TAZARA railway more than 50 years ago, as well as major bridge and rail projects across the continent.
In January 2022, Tanzania and Burundi signed an agreement to cooperate on the Uvinza-Musongati railway. TRC was assigned responsibility for contractor procurement and project oversight on behalf of both countries.
The expansion of the SGR network is expected to transform trade and mobility in the region, reinforcing Tanzania’s position as a critical transport hub in East and Central Africa.
