Uganda Railway Corporation Boss Grilled Over 394 Missing Wagons

Embattled URC MD - Benon Kajuna who was grilled for missing wagons

The Uganda Railway Corporation Managing Director, Benon Kajuna was thoroughly grilled by police detectives over failure to provide evidence on attempt to recover 394 missing wagons linked to the controversial Rift Valley Railways (RVR) concession, something that has raised grave concerns on issues of accountability, asset management and regional transport security.

On July 24, 2026, embattled Benon Kajuna allegedly recorded a statement with Parliament Police after appearing before legislators investigating the disappearance of railway equipment belonging to Uganda and Kenya.

His woes stem from the Auditor General’s report over the loss of railway assets, prompting legislators to demand answers on how hundreds of wagons, some larger than buses, vanished from official records without clear recovery measures.

Legislators on Physical Infrastructure said the missing assets included 113 Uganda Railways wagons and 281 belonging to Kenya Railways, warning that the issue could damage Uganda’s reputation and create diplomatic tensions with neighbouring countries.

“A wagon is a big thing, bigger than a bus. How can something bigger than a bus just disappear?” Hon. Berunado Ssebbugga-Kimeze wondered.

In response, URC officials told the committee that the disappearance was linked to challenges that emerged when Rift Valley Railways shifted from a manual wagon tracking system to a digital platform known as Translogic.

“Wagons that could not immediately be traced were reportedly moved into a virtual station in Nyahururu, Kenya, where records later became difficult to verify, “URC officials said.

The officials also explained that under a tripartite agreement involving Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, wagons are allowed to operate across borders for specified periods.

“Any wagon remaining away from its owner’s network for more than 90 days is classified as lost, requiring compensation based on the value of a replacement unit, “URC officials added.

Dissatisfied legislators also demanded a complete inventory showing the location and status of all Corporation wagons operating across the region, as well as documentation proving attempts had been made to recover the missing assets.

The Committee chairperson, Hon. Mwine Mpaka warned that officials could face arrest if they fail to produce evidence of recovery efforts.

The investigation comes as URC faces broader operational challenges, including limited locomotive availability, funding shortages and the need for major investment in railway safety and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the corporation has requested for government support to address a Shs250.5 billion funding deficit and the release of Shs.99 billion in outstanding counterpart funding for the Kampala-Malaba railway rehabilitation project.