KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda and Kenya have successfully negotiated and agreed upon the necessary technical standards and policy positions to link their respective Standard Gauge Railway, or SGR, systems. This critical agreement resolves long-standing technical differences, securing the full interoperability required for East Africa’s longest and fastest railway system to connect Mombasa to Kampala.
The resolution came after engineers, policymakers and officials from both countries met from Nov. 12 to 14, 2025. A major hurdle had been Kenya’s use of Chinese SGR standards versus Uganda’s planned use of mostly European systems. Experts confirmed in a joint press statement that despite these differences, the two systems can be harmonized through clear engineering adjustments, ensuring seamless operation where the lines meet at Malaba.
Waiswa Bageya, Uganda’s permanent secretary for Works and Transport, confirmed that this standardization was both a regional obligation and a contractual requirement. Bageya noted that the engineering, procurement and construction, or EPC, contract signed with Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi compels the contractor to guarantee that Uganda’s SGR design, components and systems are fully aligned with Kenya’s network. This alignment covers track structure, power systems, signaling, communications, rolling stock and operations.
With the technical path cleared, progress on Uganda’s side is accelerating. Land acquisition and compensation, which had been a significant challenge, is now complete in nine of the 12 districts along the railway corridor. Work is currently underway in Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala, with completion expected by the end of 2025. Early works, including detailed designs and setting up a sleeper factory and construction camp, have already commenced under a Limited Notice to Proceed, the press statement noted.
To solidify collaboration, both nations agreed to continue sharing technical data and development plans. Uganda’s technical team, along with its contractor and consultant, is scheduled to undertake an experiential visit to Kenya’s operational SGR system by December 2025. Full construction of Uganda’s SGR system is scheduled to commence in 2026.
