PRESIDENTS MUSEVENI AND RUTO LAUNCH KISUMU- MALABA SGR EXTENSION TO BOOST REGIONAL TRADE

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni this morning arrived in Kenya where,
together with his Kenyan counterpart H.E William Ruto, officiated at the
launch of the construction of the Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge
Railway (SGR) Extension (Phase II).

Upon arrival at Kisumu International Airport, President Museveni was
received by Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary,
alongside James Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and
Petroleum. The Ugandan leader inspected a guard of honour mounted in
his recognition.

Members of the Ugandan delegation included officials from the Uganda
High Commission in Nairobi such as Ambassador Unice Kigyenyi,
Charge d’Affaires, Doreen Ruyondo, Minister Counsellor, Brig. Gen.
MacDans Kamugira, Defence Attaché, and Elias Kassirabo, Police
Attaché.

Bilateral Talks on Trade and Regional Integration:
Following his arrival, President Museveni held a closed-door meeting
with President Ruto where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations,
regional trade, and infrastructure development between Uganda and
Kenya.

The two Presidents later jointly launched the project and symbolically
tightened a bolt on the railway line to mark the commencement of
construction works.

President Museveni congratulated President Ruto and the people of
Kenya upon what he described as a significant milestone in regional
infrastructure development.

“This is a very important function of launching the Naivasha–Kisumu to
Malaba Standard Gauge Railway,” President Museveni said.

President Museveni explained that the railway forms part of a broader
plan to rationalise the transport system within the region, particularly in
Uganda where he noted that over-reliance on road transport increases
costs and inefficiencies.

“The railway is part of the rationalisation of our transport system,
especially on the Ugandan side which is irrational and wasteful because
passengers, light cargo, heavy cargo and petroleum products are all
concentrated on the roads,” he said.

He explained that Uganda’s long-term plan is to transfer heavy cargo to
the railway, petroleum products to pipelines and water transport, while
reserving roads mainly for passengers and light cargo.

The President noted that this approach will reduce road congestion and
improve the competitiveness of regional economies.

President Museveni emphasised that Africa must focus on producing
high-quality but affordable goods to remain competitive globally. He
identified high transport costs, expensive electricity, and the high cost of
financing as key challenges affecting business competitiveness.

“If Africa does not address these cost pushers, we shall be outpriced
and our goods will not be competitive even within Africa,” he warned.
President Ruto commended President Museveni for his commitment to
regional integration and his long-standing advocacy for East African
unity.

He noted that the Standard Gauge Railway from Suswa through Kisumu
to Malaba will unlock Kenya’s economic potential and benefit the entire
East African region.

The multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project is expected to strengthen
connectivity to the Port of Mombasa and facilitate trade with landlocked
countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the
Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Ruto highlighted the growing demand for efficient transport,
noting that cargo volumes through the Port of Mombasa reached 7.37
million tonnes in just six months of 2025, with nearly 70 percent destined
for Uganda.

He observed that cargo currently takes up to 80 hours to move from
Mombasa to Malaba and more than 100 hours to Kampala, stressing
that slow logistics corridors undermine competitiveness.

“A slow transport corridor inevitably loses business and weakens our
competitiveness as a nation,” President Ruto said.

The railway extension is expected to significantly improve the Northern
Corridor by reducing transport time, lowering freight costs, and
improving the movement of goods between Uganda and the Kenyan
coast.

The corridor also supports key economic sectors including agriculture
and fisheries around the Lake Victoria basin and is expected to become
a critical trade route for the Great Lakes region.

The Kisumu–Malaba SGR extension forms part of a broader regional
railway network connecting Mombasa, Nairobi, Naivasha, Kisumu,
Malaba, and eventually Kampala.

Leaders from both countries expressed optimism that the project will
accelerate regional integration, enhance trade efficiency, and strengthen
economic cooperation between Kenya and Uganda.

The launch was also attended by Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the
First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and the Minister for East African
Community Affairs and the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala