Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo has pledged KCCA’s support towards the implementation of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Kampala, including mobilising residents, supporting land acquisition and facilitating compensation of project-affected persons.
Balimwezo made the commitment on Thursday during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport’s SGR Project Management Unit at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour.
The meeting was held to sensitise newly elected KCCA office bearers about the SGR project and explore ways the city authority can support its implementation, particularly in addressing compensation for project-affected persons.
Balimwezo said KCCA is ready to work with the project team to ensure the railway is implemented successfully and without unnecessary delays.
“We want the project fast-tracked, but we also want the project-affected persons to be well and fairly compensated,” Balimwezo said.
He said KCCA would help mobilise communities along the railway corridor, sensitise residents about the project and its benefits, and encourage communities to protect the railway reserve.
Balimwezo noted that the SGR could significantly reduce pressure on Kampala’s roads by shifting freight transportation from trucks to rail.
The 272-kilometre Malaba-Kampala SGR is the priority section of Uganda’s planned modern railway network. It will connect Uganda to Kenya’s railway system and provide a direct rail link to the Port of Mombasa.
Within Kampala, the railway is expected to pass through Nakawa and Central divisions.
According to SGR officials, the railway will transport both passengers and freight at speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour, offering faster and more efficient transportation than the existing metre-gauge railway.
The project is expected to reduce freight transit time between Mombasa and Kampala to about one day and cut the cost of transporting a container from approximately USD 3,200 to USD 1,600.
The planned Kampala SGR station will also be integrated with the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to enable passengers to connect between rail and other public transport services.
Emmanuel Ssemakula, Deputy Project Coordinator for Technical Works at the SGR project, said the meeting with KCCA leadership was aimed at establishing a coordinated approach to addressing compensation and right-of-way issues in Kampala.
“We are here to meet KCCA leadership to discuss and pave the way for how best to compensate the people affected by the project in Kampala,” Ssemakula said.
He said the SGR project traverses 11 districts and two cities, with implementation progressing steadily.
The project team said Government has already compensated a substantial number of project-affected persons, while consultations and engagements continue in areas where compensation and right-of-way challenges remain.
 project in Kampala.){kind=link}