Uganda Prioritises Rail Infrastructure with Major Investments in SGR and MGR Lines
In November 2024, Uganda marked a major milestone with the launch of construction on the 272-kilometre Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Malaba to Kampala. The project is expected to halve cargo transport costs—from USD 120 to USD 60 per ton—and cut transit time from Mombasa to Kampala from seven days to just one, effectively positioning Uganda as a land-linked rather than landlocked country. Initial construction works have already begun.
Alongside SGR development, the government has completed the refurbishment and commissioning of the Mukono–Kampala Metre Gauge Railway (MGR) line. Rehabilitation of the 375-kilometre Tororo–Gulu MGR is also underway and scheduled for completion by February 2026.
In the upcoming 2025/26 financial year, priority rail interventions will include completing the Tororo–Gulu rehabilitation, refurbishing the Mukono–Jinja MGR line, and continuing construction of the Malaba–Kampala SGR. A total of UGX 6.92 trillion has been allocated to integrated transport infrastructure services, covering rail, road, water, and air transport.
