Uganda Railways Corporation is evaluating bids from Chinese and Korean firms for a $48 million deal to supply 10 diesel-electric locomotives, set to enhance service on the rehabilitated Tororo-Gulu route. Concurrently, URC is overhauling the Malaba-Mukono track as part of a wider modernization effort, funded by the African Development Bank, aimed at increasing cargo capacity and improving railway infrastructure.
Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is currently reviewing bids from firms in China and South Korea for a $48 million contract to provide 10 new diesel-electric locomotives. This tender, which concluded on March 7, featured submissions from four companies, including China Shandong International Limited, CRRC Qishuyan Company Limited, Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Limited, and Dalian Lambo Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. from South Korea.
URC spokesperson John Linonn Sengendo indicated that these locomotives will be utilized on the rehabilitated Tororo-Gulu route and will augment existing operations along the main line from Malaba to Kampala. He confirmed that the contractor aims to finalize the project by December of this year, marking a ten-month period from the date of the tender closure.
The rehabilitation of the 375-kilometer Tororo-Gulu line, financed at Shs199.9 billion ($54.14 million) by the Ugandan government, is scheduled for completion by December 2025. Key elements of this project involve enhancing drainage systems, building new culverts, and rehabilitating five steel girder bridges, among others.
Additionally, URC is undertaking an overhaul of the 265-kilometer Malaba-Mukono track, which forms part of a five-year railway modernization initiative supported by the African Development Bank. This $301 million project encompasses the acquisition of new wagons, a multi-purpose water vessel, and the upgrade of railway stations and port infrastructure.
URC Managing Director Benon Kajuna remarked that the corporation currently manages only 250,000 tonnes of cargo yearly, a drastic drop from the one million tonnes handled in 2006. The drop in cargo volume is attributed to the dilapidated infrastructure, an issue being addressed through the African Development Bank initiative, as detailed by Mr. Sengendo.
The designated railway line is a critical component of the East African Community’s Northern Corridor, which connects Kampala to Kenya’s coastal seaport in Mombasa.
In conclusion, Uganda Railways Corporation is progressing with significant modernization efforts by inviting bids for new diesel-electric locomotives and rehabilitating key rail routes. The investments aim to reverse the decline in cargo transport volumes and improve overall infrastructure under funded initiatives from both the Ugandan government and the African Development Bank.
Original Source: www.pmldaily.com
