On 14 October, the contract for the construction of the Malaba-Kampala (Eastern Route) Railway, valued at approximately 3 billion dollars and spanning 273 kilometres, was ceremonially signed between the Government of Uganda and Yapı Merkezi. This railway marks a significant milestone for the Eastern Route Railway project, which promises to enhance regional connectivity and drive economic growth.
The project will be one of the largest ever undertaken by a Turkish contractor abroad and holds strategic importance for both Uganda and East Africa.
The Malaba-Kampala Eastern Route Railway Project encompasses the design, construction, and procurement of rail vehicles for a standard gauge railway that will be fully electrified according to European and American standards. The 273 km long project has a design speed of 120 km/h and includes 2 major stations, 4 medium stations, 1 marshalling yard, and 3 freight terminals. This project, which will connect Uganda with Kenya, has a freight capacity of 25 million tons annually.
At the ceremony, Erdem Arıoğlu, Vice Chairperson of Yapı Merkezi, stated, "We are very proud to undertake the Eastern Route Railway Project, one of the largest projects signed by Turkish contractors abroad, which will connect Uganda to Kenya. By leveraging our extensive expertise in railway engineering, we have achieved success by providing the most suitable engineering solutions for this important project. We are very happy to successfully represent our country abroad."
At the ceremony, Uganda's Minister of Work and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, expressed pride in collaborating with Yapı Merkezi, which has undertaken numerous railway constructions in Africa, on this project that will connect Uganda and Kenya, enhancing regional trade and economic integration—an important initiative in Uganda's transportation history. He stated his belief that Yapı Merkezi will successfully complete the project on time.
For the Eastern Route Railway Project, a China-based company signed a construction contract in 2015, but the Ugandan government cancelled the contract because the company failed to fulfil its project financing obligations. Subsequently, Yapı Merkezi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Uganda. On November 8, 2022, Yapı Merkezi signed this Memorandum and submitted its construction and financing proposal for the Malaba-Kampala (Eastern Route) Railway Project, which will connect Uganda to Kenya, to the Ugandan Ministry of Transport in July 2023. The proposal negotiations were completed by June 2024. The Letter of Award was received on September 24, 2024.
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 Port of Mombasa, which opens to the Indian Ocean. Additionally, the Kampala-Kasese (Western Route) project, for which Yapı Merkezi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, will provide the Democratic Republic of the Congo with rail access to the Port of Mombasa. Expected to begin construction this year, this project is of significant commercial importance as it could reduce high transportation costs in a landlocked country.
The ceremony was attended by Turkish Ambassador H.E. Mehmet Fatih Ak, Yapı Merkezi Construction Vice Chairman of the Board Erdem Arıoğlu, Yapı Merkezi Construction General Manager Mustafa Kopuz, and Uganda Projects Coordinator F. Mert Öz.
