Agency
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has on Saturday commissioned the rehabilitated Mukono-Kampala meter gauge railway line.
The 26.8 km railway line has been constructed using concrete sleepers that were manufactured by Imathia Construction factory in Kawolo, Lugazi. This rehabilitated section is designed for speeds of up to 120 km/hour, a significant upgrade from the old infrastructure which allowed for only 20-35 kms/hour.
The commuter train currently has a capacity of transporting 650 persons in a single trip.
During the launch, President Museveni revealed that the current transport system is irrational, and the government has begun to rationalise it to achieve effectiveness and efficiency.
“Remember the economy of Uganda had collapsed under Idi Amin since 1971 and by the time we came, it had shrunk by 40 percent. We therefore undertook an initiative to revive the economy, and it has now been revived. And because of the revival, we now have the pressure for rapid rationalisation of the transport system,” he said.
“The revived economy has put so many vehicles on the roads and these roads can’t cope rationally with the pressure. This is because everything is on the roads; cargo, petroleum products and passengers.”
President Museveni further disclosed that the government will support the extension of the railway line from Mukono to Lugazi and to Jinja.