Kampala to Mukono in 30 Minutes as Train Service Expands

The Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) has relaunched its passenger train services on the Kampala-Namanve route, which had been previously halted due to safety concerns. As of October 9, the train will now extend its services beyond Namanve to Mukono, reducing travel times for commuters along this route.

Passenger train services had been suspended in September after the Kinawataka swamp, near the Mbuya-Kinawataka section, eroded the soil surrounding the tracks. This left only a narrow margin between the railway and the eroded swamp, making travel unsafe. After rehabilitation work to ensure the integrity of the tracks, the URC has resumed services and made the decision to extend the route to Mukono.

Andrew Muguluma, the head of the technical committee and a member of the board of directors at URC, addressed the media at the relaunch. He emphasized that the extension of the service would significantly reduce the time spent commuting between Kampala and Mukono. Road traffic on this route often results in a two-hour journey, while the train is expected to cover the distance in just 30 to 40 minutes.

Currently, the train will make four trips daily—two in the morning and two in the evening. Muguluma also highlighted plans to increase the number of trips as more coaches become available. He stated that URC is planning to purchase additional locomotives within the next one to two years to further improve passenger transportation.

The resumption of services on the Kampala-Namanve line first occurred on May 1, 2024, after the line had been closed in 2023 for renovations. Currently, URC operates four trips per day at a fare of UGX 2,000 per trip, serving an average of 1,600 passengers daily.

In the future, URC intends to extend services beyond Mukono to Masaka, aiming to make train travel more accessible across various regions of the country. This expansion is part of a broader plan to improve rail services and offer more efficient alternatives to road travel, which is often affected by heavy traffic congestion.

During a recent regional meeting, Uganda, along with Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, committed to fast tracking the development of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). This project, when completed, will connect several East African countries, including the sections from Naivasha, Kenya, to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC. Uganda plans to begin construction on its own section of the SGR between Malaba and Kampala by September 2024, pending the availability of funds. The Ugandan government is in the final stages of negotiations with the proposed contractor, Yapi Merkezi.

The Uganda Railway Corporation, under the Ministry of Works and Transport, is mandated to provide railway, marine, and road services within and outside Uganda for both goods and passenger transport. URC manages a total track network of 1,266 kilometers.