The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Effective November 1, 2024, the passenger train service along the Mukono-Kampala route is set to resume, as confirmed by officials from Uganda Railway Corporation (URC). Mukono will be added as an extension to the existing Kampala-Namanve route, improving connectivity from the eastern part of Kampala city.
This development follows the successful renovation of the rail line connecting Mukono Municipality to Kampala, which began in April of last year. The renovation involved replacing steel sleepers with concrete ones to enhance the line’s durability.
Andrew Muguluma, a URC board member and chairperson of the technical committee, announced that the Mukono-Kampala route will feature two-morning departures from Mukono and two evening departures from Kampala. He noted that the service will improve as more coaches and locomotives are acquired. Fares for the route are set at 4,000 Shillings.
Two trains will operate one for the extended Mukono-Kampala route and another for the Namanve-Kampala route. In the coming days, URC will focus on finalizing passenger logistics to ensure a smooth launch next month.
Currently, each train trip can accommodate between 600 and 750 passengers, allowing for a total capacity of 1,200 to 1,500 passengers per trip with two trains in operation. The new route will include three additional stopovers beyond those on the Namanve-Kampala route.
Muguluma emphasized that URC is enhancing security measures for passenger safety, noting the presence of both uniformed and plainclothes officers to monitor for suspicious activities. Muguluma also mentioned plans for the Kyengera-Kampala passenger route, which he anticipates will be ready for use within a year.
Progress has already been made, including line scooping, and the current focus is on the tendering process. However, he expressed concern over ongoing issues with garbage dumping onto the rail line and vandalism of rail materials. “We appeal to Ugandans to stop vandalizing and stealing because it is the country that suffers. When the cheapest means of transport is unavailable, the cost of goods rises, and no one benefits,” he stated.
Regarding the garbage problem, he warned that dumping on the rail line poses risks to the train’s speed and safety. “The steel rails and wheels of the train require a stable surface. Garbage makes the line slippery and softens the ground, which can lead to accidents,” he said, adding that this could potentially cause capsizing.
Muguluma urged local authorities in Mukono, Kira, and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to provide proper dumping sites. He also noted that URC has deployed personnel along the line to arrest and prosecute anyone caught dumping garbage on the tracks.
******
URN
