Reviving Uganda's Kasese line

[John Ashworth]

REVIVING UGANDA’S KASESE LINE

Railways Africa on April 21, 2011 in Uganda

New plans aim at reviving the long-out-of-use 333km Kampala-Kasese railway in Uganda. The line was built originally to carry cooper concentrate from the Kilembe mines to the smelting plant at Jinja.

Operations were suspended in 1998 due to safety issues, low revenue and high operating costs. Since then, track and sleepers have been stolen and the equipment and other equipment vandalised.

Recent studies estimate potential traffic at 800,000 tonnes per annum by 2015, compared to 70,000 tonnes in 1996. The discovery of oil in western Uganda and stability in the Great Lakes region, it is pointed out, create a good case for the revival of the railway. Rail transport is seen as being less costly than road and its cargo more secure. Less congestion at the Malaba and Busia border points is foreseen, and a reduction in road accidents.