A new era of East African integration begins as Uganda and Kenya prepare to break ground on the SGR link to Malaba and Kampala. Once completed, the modern rail network is projected to reduce freight costs by 35% and cut travel time between the two capitals to just four hours.
A new era of East African integration begins as Uganda and Kenya prepare to break ground on the SGR link to Malaba and Kampala. Once completed, the modern rail network is projected to reduce freight costs by 35% and cut travel time between the two capitals to just four hours.

Overview:

Uganda and Kenya reach an SGR standard agreement, ensuring full railway interoperability from Mombasa to Kampala.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda and Kenya have reached a definitive agreement on the technical standards and policy positions required to connect their Standard Gauge Railway, or SGR, systems from Mombasa to Kampala. The move resolves long-standing technical differences that had delayed the project, bringing the two nations closer to realizing East Africa’s longest and fastest railway system.

The agreement was formalized after engineers, policymakers and officials from both countries met from Nov. 12 to 14, 2025. Although Kenya’s SGR uses Chinese standards and Uganda intends to use primarily European systems, experts confirmed the two can be successfully harmonized through engineering adjustments to ensure full interoperability, according to a press statement.

Waiswa Bageya, Uganda’s permanent secretary for Works and Transport, noted that harmonizing these standards was a contractual requirement under the engineering, procurement and construction, or EPC, contract signed with Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi, as well as a regional obligation. The contractor is compelled to guarantee that Uganda’s SGR design, systems and components match Kenya’s network where the two meet at Malaba. This includes alignment in track structure, power systems, signaling, communications, rolling stock and operations.

Progress on Uganda’s side is advancing steadily. Land acquisition and compensation, a major challenge for the project, has now been completed in nine out of 12 districts along the railway corridor. Current work in Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala is expected to conclude by the end of 2025. Early works, which include preliminary and detailed designs and the establishment of a sleeper factory and construction camp, have already begun under a Limited Notice to Proceed, the press statement noted.

Both countries agreed to continue sharing technical data and development plans. Uganda’s technical team, along with its contractor and consultant, will undertake an experiential visit to Kenya’s SGR system by December 2025. Full construction of Uganda’s SGR system is scheduled to begin in 2026.