A tripartite railway deal among Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania is uncertain after Tanzania’s delegation missed a crucial meeting in Kampala.
A Joint Technical Committee meeting was held between the Managing Directors of Kenya Railways Corporation and Uganda Railways Corporation to strengthen railway networks.
Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, commended the Managing Directors for their collaboration in strengthening connectivity across East Africa.
“The railway deal will help reduce the number of road accidents during cargo transportation by trucks,” Katumba commented.
Additionally, the tripartite railway deal will enhance unity among the partners, Katumba said, noting that the development will bring the partners together to work as their forefathers did.
During a courtesy call in Kampala on February 20, the minister was briefed by the managing director and the members of the committee on the progress made in the Tripartite Agreement and the reviews made.
“The review aims to align railway operations and strengthen seamless interconnectivity between the regional railway networks,” the statement read.
Earlier, the committee held a meeting at the Uganda Railway headquarters on Nasser Road to bring together technical teams and deliberate on a framework to guide the cooperation.
The meeting culminated in the development of an action matrix and implementation roadmap toward the review of the Tripartite Agreement.
To enhance seamless railway operations, the team agreed to finalize the revision of the Tripartite Agreement by June 30,2026.
Later, a joint media briefing was held to provide further insight into the program and the next steps.
The media briefing was aimed at elaborating on how the program will integrate the railway networks in East Africa.
Despite the agreement, the Tanzanian delegate missed out on the meeting but reaffirmed its commitment to participate in the upcoming meeting.
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Reason for the collaboration
Collaboration between the railway operators will ensure they boost cargo transport between the port of Mombasa and Kampala.
This will ensure smooth, efficient Cargo operations among the partner states and improve seamless transport.
Additionally, the development will ensure that transportation is more affordable through the railway, as road transport is expensive.
Cargo transportation will shift the transportation cost and the pressure on the road transport.
Shifting the cargo transport to the railways will reduce road congestion and help Uganda reclaim its infrastructure.
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How the Partners Will Ensure the Partnership is Successful
According to the Managing Director of the Ugandan Railway Corporation, Benon Kajuna, finalizing the review before June 30 will enable the legal team to scrutinize the Agreement.
The legal department and the operational department will review the agreement and guide the way forward.
Additionally, the team will be holding monthly meetings with their Attorney Generals regarding the framework.
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