The assessment provides a clearer technical basis for determining what work may be required to return the four 98XX locomotives to improved condition. At this stage, it remains an assessment exercise rather than a confirmed rehabilitation contract.
The work also aligns with URC’s broader efforts to improve rolling-stock availability and maintenance capability. The inclusion of training and knowledge transfer in the Unirail-Greco initiative could support URC’s ability to maintain rehabilitated locomotives locally if the programme advances beyond the current assessment stage.
A Unirail technical team has carried out a preliminary condition assessment of four EMD 98XX series diesel-electric locomotives belonging to Uganda Railways Corporation (URC), as part of an initiative being undertaken with Greco International.
The multidisciplinary team travelled to Kampala to inspect the locomotives and assess their current condition, maintenance requirements and rehabilitation needs.
According to Unirail, preliminary technical observations and recommendations arising from the assessment were subsequently presented to the URC team.
In a social media post, the company said the initiative is intended to extend beyond locomotive rehabilitation to include structured training, practical knowledge transfer and hands-on capacity building for URC personnel, to strengthen local maintenance capability.
Unirail described the work as part of a Unirail-Greco joint venture initiative.
URC has separately been progressing procurement relating to its 98XX locomotive fleet. An official procurement addendum issued in January 2026 amended an earlier tender to cover the supply and installation of spare parts and tools for the repair and maintenance of 98XX Class locomotives.
The amended requirements also incorporated additional spare parts, installation services and a training component. The closing date for that procurement was extended to 10 February 2026.
URC’s wider railway rehabilitation programme includes measures intended to improve rolling-stock availability and strengthen the corporation’s capacity to maintain and operate its railway assets.
For the four locomotives assessed by Unirail, the current activity remains at preliminary condition-assessment stage, with the inspection intended to establish their maintenance and rehabilitation requirements before further work.
