Groundbreaking for Construction of the Kampala-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway in Uganda

On 21 November, construction of the modern railway line between Kampala and Malaba at the border between Uganda and Kenya kicked off. During a ceremony Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni highlighted the importance of the project for the country’s economic development. The new railway line is not only intended to strengthen regional trade but also improve Ugandans’ mobility and pave the way towards a modern, efficient transport infrastructure.

The 272-kilometre-long line with a design speed of 120 km/h comprises six passenger stations, a shunting yard, three freight terminals as well as several bridges and culverts. A unique highlight on the line is the Jinja bridge: With a length of 552 metres and an impressive stayed-cable structure, il will be a landmark strikingly crossing the Victoria-Nile.

The “SSF joint venture” includes SSF Ingenieure AG (lead signatory), SSF International GmbH, Roxplan Engineering Ltd. and Professional Engineering Consultants Ltd., and supports the developer, the Ministry of Works and Transport, during negotiations with the construction company Yapi Merkezi in view of signing the construction contract. Moreover, the 2014 feasibility study was revised. During the execution phase, starting in January, we will render services of design review, construction management and supervision.

This project is the third large railway contract for our team in East Africa. Currently, SSF is working on the metre gauge railway rehabilitation project in Uganda and is part of a joint venture for the design and supervision of a 1,200-kilometre-long railway line in Tanzania, connecting Dar es Salaam to Mwanza at Lake Victoria.

For more information about the project and technical data: News from 26 March 2024.