Railway project to link Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan

12 Jan, 2012

Construction of a $4.7 billion railway line linking Uganda and South Sudan to the port of Dar es Salaam is scheduled to begin in 2014.

The Tanzanian government confirmed that the design, engineering studies and legal arrangements were ready but that it and the other two governments were waiting to finalise funds.

The railway line is expected to reduce transport costs and delays caused by road haulage, with the northern Tanzanian port of Tanga and Musoma on Lake Victoria dealing with cargo traffic destined for Uganda and South Sudan.

Significantly, Tanzania and Uganda have agreed that the proposed joint commercial rail track going from Tanga-Arusha-Musoma to the Ugandan capital of Kampala, will not run through the Serengeti National Park, but will be constructed 100km south of the park