The groundbreaking ceremony for the Eastern Railway Line (SGR), which holds strategic importance not only for Uganda but also for East Africa, took place on November 21 in Tororo. The ceremony was attended by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s Minister of Transport Katumba Wamala, Turkish Ambassador to Kampala Mehmet Fatih Ak, Vice Chairman of the Board of Yapı Merkezi Construction Dr. Erdem Arıoğlu, and the General Manager of Yapı Merkezi Construction Mustafa Kopuz.
On October 14, 2024, a contract was signed between Yapı Merkezi and Uganda Railways for the construction of the Eastern Railway Line (SGR). This signing has gone down in history as one of the largest projects ever signed by Turkish contractors abroad. A China-based company had signed a construction contract in 2015 for the Malaba-Kampala Railway, but due to its failure to meet its financial obligations for the project, the Ugandan government cancelled the agreement. Subsequently, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Yapı Merkezi on November 8, 2022. Yapı Merkezi submitted its construction and financing proposal for the project, which will connect Uganda to Kenya, to the Ugandan Ministry of Transport in July 2023. The proposal negotiations were completed with the acceptance of the Proposal Acceptance Letter in September 2024, leading to the contract discussions. Finally, the contract was signed between the Ugandan government and Yapı Merkezi on October 14, 2024.
On Thursday, November 21, during the ceremony held in Tororo, Turkey’s Ambassador to Kampala, Mehmet Fatih Ak, stated: “I have full confidence that Yapı Merkezi will complete the project on time.”
Başar Arıoğlu, Chairperson of Yapı Merkezi Holding, stated: “We are extremely proud to undertake the Eastern Railway Line Project, one of the largest projects ever signed by Turkish contractors abroad. As Yapı Merkezi, we have successfully provided the most suitable engineering solutions for this significant project, utilizing our extensive knowledge in railway engineering. We are very happy to contribute to the Turkish economy by representing our country successfully abroad.”
Dr. Erdem Arıoğlu, Vice Chairman of the Board of Yapı Merkezi Construction, stated: “We are here not only to launch this iconic project, but also to celebrate a transformative project that will connect nations, foster economic growth, and strengthen the bonds between our countries. As Yapı Merkezi, we are extremely proud to bring over 50 years of experience in railway construction to this project. The work we are doing here is built upon the strong foundations we have established in many African countries, from Tanzania to Algeria, Ethiopia to Senegal, and we are thrilled to continue this legacy in Uganda.”
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni stated: “If we can have more railway transport within the city, there will be fewer people driving cars into the city. This will help to decongest the city. The train already in service has seen so many people use it. With the new line (SGR) that Yapı Merkezi will construct, the travel time, which currently takes 14 days, will be reduced to 24 hours. As delays are resolved, the cost of doing business will also decrease.”
The 273-kilometer railway, which will connect Uganda to Kenya, will become a vital corridor for trade and transportation in the region. This project, with a unique freight capacity of 25 million tons per year, will reduce transportation costs, increase efficiency, and support Uganda and its neighbouring countries in unlocking their economic potential. With the completion of the Naivasha–Malaba Railway in Kenya, the line extending from Uganda’s capital, Kampala, to Kenya will connect the country to the Mombasa Port, which opens to the Indian Ocean.
Additionally, in connection with the signed railway, the Kampala–Kasese (Western Line) will provide the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda with rail access to the Mombasa Port. Yapı Merkezi’s Memorandum of Understanding, signed in November 2022, includes these lines, and once the financing for this project is completed and work begins, these additional lines will also be addressed. The Malaba–Kampala Eastern Railway Line Project will be a standard-gauge railway fully electrified and equipped with modern signalling, in compliance with European and American standards. The engineering design, construction, necessary testing, commissioning, and procurement of certain railway vehicles for this project will be carried out by Yapı Merkezi on a turnkey basis.
The total length of the project is 273 km, with a design speed of 120 km/h. Two large and four medium-sized stations will be built. The project will also include a large freight and train handling area, three customs cargo terminals, and three integrated maintenance and repair facilities, one of which will be for heavy maintenance. The project, which passes through challenging terrains at times, will include a 2.1-kilometre tunnel and a 2.3-kilometre viaduct. The project will also feature the Jinja Bridge, which will be 552 meters long and constructed with an inclined cable-stayed system. With its aesthetic features, the Jinja Bridge will become a symbol not only of the project but also of Uganda.
As Yapı Merkezi, we are very proud to contribute to this project, which will provide employment for approximately 4,500 people. With over fifty years of experience in the railway sector, we are preparing for this project with great care and in line with high engineering standards. Drawing from the knowledge we have accumulated through projects built in Türkiye and across Africa, from Tanzania to Algeria and Ethiopia to Senegal, we will create a high-quality system that will serve the people of Uganda.
