East Africa's central corridor 'needs upgrade'

10 November 2009

An infrastructure upgrade to the highway between Dar-es-Salaam and Kampala is needed to improve commercial prospects in the region, it has been suggested.

In a recent editorial in Ugandan newspaper the Monitor, journalistic commentator Faridah Kulabako drew attention to the difference modernisation of the road network had made to the link between Mombasa and Kampala.

"The northern corridor contributes almost 90 per cent of Uganda's imports and exports with only one per cent coming in through the port of Dar-es-Salaam," she noted.

Ms Kulabako went on to relay statements from the Kampala City Traders Association's vice-chairman Everest Kayondo, urging Tanzania to find a lasting solution to its transport infrastructure problems.

Not only would relieving the overwhelmed Mombasa port be good for trade in the entire region, making the bridges and highways navigable in the rainy season would greatly benefit commerce between Tanzania and Uganda, Mr Kayondo said.

The Ugandan Independent recently reported the government was looking into public-private partnerships as one option for funding the development of the central corridor route.

Category: Transport