Uganda Railways Corporation and EU Delegation Strategic Engagement on Sustainable Railways Development
The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) Board, led by Chairman Hon. Daudi Migereko and accompanied by Board Directors, Eng. Benjamin Olobo and Ms Faridah Mayanja Mpiima, alongside URC Management, held a high-level strategic meeting on 16 April 2026 with His Excellency Ambassador Jan Sadek, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uganda.
The meeting, held at the EU Delegation offices in Kampala, aimed to share insights and shape a forward-looking collaboration between URC and the EU in technical preparation, operational planning, and the implementation of targeted railway development programmes, with full integration of sustainable and green infrastructure principles.
EU Global Gateway: Railways as a Strategic Priority
Ambassador Sadek provided a detailed overview of the EU Global Gateway Programme, underscoring how the railways sector fits into the overall strategic architecture of this flagship EU initiative. He highlighted pathways towards planning and preparation strategies for both passenger and cargo rail services, financing strategies, and the collaborative frameworks needed to marshal the resources required for large-scale implementation.
The EU Global Gateway Programme represents a significant opportunity for Uganda to accelerate its railway transformation, connecting communities, boosting trade, and building resilient, low-carbon transport infrastructure for future generations.
Five Decades of EU Support to Uganda
Chairman Hon. Daudi Migereko acknowledged the EU’s enduring partnership with Uganda, spanning over 50 years, and provided context on Uganda’s rail development journey, including progress made, challenges encountered, and the practical strategies required to take rail development forward. Key EU-supported programmes to date include:
- Rehabilitation of the Tororo–Gulu Railway Line
- Construction of the Gulu Logistics Hub
- Technical Capacity Building Programmes
- Feasibility Study for Expansion of Railway Passenger Services in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area
- Study for Uganda Meter Gauge Passenger Rail
- Modernisation and Expansion of Portbell
Key Outcomes and Strategic Priorities
The meeting yielded clear, actionable priorities to guide the URC-EU partnership going forward:
- Institutional Strengthening: Targeted support to build URC’s organisational, technical, and operational capacity for world-class rail delivery.
- Accelerating Planning to Implementation: Bridging the gap between technical engineering preparation and actual works execution to speed up project delivery.
- Asset Management: Improving the stewardship and lifecycle management of Uganda’s railway infrastructure and rolling stock.
- Green Infrastructure Integration: Embedding sustainability and environmental resilience at the core of all future railway development initiatives.
- Diversified Financing Ecosystem: Developing a wider, deeper financing architecture that utilises varied instruments, including grants, blended finance, and private sector participation.
Hon. Daudi Migereko, Chairman, Uganda Railways Corporation Board, said: “This meeting reinforces URC’s commitment to building an efficient, faster, and impactful railway network in Uganda. The EU’s support has been transformative over the last 50 years, and together we are laying the tracks for an even bolder future.”
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to sustained, results-oriented engagement. URC and the EU Delegation agreed to continue collaboration through structured follow-up engagements to operationalise the priorities identified.
