Tanzania and Uganda plan joint railway venture

4 April 2011

Increased trade from East Africa has prompted Tanzania and Uganda to jointly plan the development of a new railway line and ports on Lake Victoria.

The $2.7 billion (£1.67 billion) venture will see an 800km railway link a proposed deep-water port at Mwambani Bay in Tanga, with Musoma on Lake Victoria.

There will also be onward connections to Kampala and Juba on the line, the East African reports.

According to officials, the project would be split into three separate developments, with $1.9 billion set aside for the railway, $695.5 million for the Mwambani port and $72.6 million for improvements to the Musoma dock.

Tanzania transport minister Omar Nundu added that the plan includes the upgrading of the Port Bell pier and construction of a new Kampala inland port in Uganda.

It follows a report from the news provider that $20 billion is needed to regenerate the transport infrastructure of the East African Community (EAC).

Comprising Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, the EAC hopes to improve the Central and Northern Corridors.

Category: Transport