Standard gauge railway (SGR)Uganda recently announced the start of construction will commence in August. It is welcome news in reviving hope for the extension of Kenya’s $2.39 billion project whose viability was dependent on the Ugandan section.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel Switch TV
Uganda’s announcement to begin construction of its section of the Malaba-Kampala railway, under the northern corridor project that required all the member states to put up a modern railway line in their respective states, has had its timing right. This asserts the commitment made in 2014, when leaders from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Rwanda broke the ground for the construction of SGR to link the states with the view of raising trades.
The above countries have a combined market of over 300 million people, according to World Bank. The prediction with the regional rail and road transport infrastructure is the possible stir in socio-economic developments in the region. Initially, SGR has emerged as a transformative infrastructure project in East Africa, revolutionizing transportation and trade dynamics. There is a huge potential benefit of extending the SGR line from Kenya to Uganda, offering significant economic gains for both nations.
Read Also: Safaricom 5G Users to Enjoy Free Internet Services for a Month
Linking Kenya and Uganda through the SGR
Linking Kenya and Uganda through the SGR line would provide a flawless and an efficient mode of transportation for goods, promoting increased trade and regional integration. The SGR’s superior capacity and faster transit times is meant to lower logistical bottlenecks and lower transport costs, promoting cross-border commerce. It is meant to facilitate goods movement, enhance access to markets and expand business opportunities for industries in both countries.
In particular, Uganda banking on the railway is majorly to boost speed and lower the cost of transporting exports such as coffee and tobacco. Uganda relies on slow road links that are costly and a railway line built by former colonial power Britain. This results to lower results than the expected.
The SGR connection between Kenya and Uganda would unlock the potential advisements in various sectors by acting as a catalyst and thereby contributing to an overall prosperity. The sectors include agriculture, manufacturing and tourism which in general would generate employment in both countries.
The Kenya and Uganda SGR connection acts as a remarkable step towards empowering East African integration. East African Community (EAC)aims at achieving their vision by promoting regional cooperation, connectivity, and economic development which aligns with the SGR connection. The integration of Kenya and Uganda through the SGR would enhance collaboration and cultivate close ties in the East African market.
East Africa’s economic welfare would result to amplification of trade, investment and cooperation.
The SGR connection would open avenues for further connectivity and regional linkages, extending beyond the immediate borders of the Kenya and Uganda.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel Switch TV
The SGR connection would potentially reduce road reliance on road transport which brings about environmental hazards.
By doing these, we would be aligning with the principles of sustainable development and environmental conservation.
