Transport links between Uganda and Sudan

[John Ashworth]

Transport links between Uganda and Sudan to cost Shs3 trillion

By Andrew Bagala

Posted Monday, April 12 2010 at 00:00
Daily Monitor
Kampala

A collection of transport projects that will link Uganda and South Sudan will cost both governments more than Shs3 trillion. The money will be spent on construction of the Northern Uganda Railway line, four major roads and air facilities. Both countries have agreed to construct four major roads linking the two countries with emphasis on the Gulu-Nimule-Juba Road, which will cost Shs1.3 trillion.

They also agreed to have a feasibility study on the construction of the railway line that will link both countries to the Africa railway network.

In a meeting with Southern Sudan transport minister Anthony Makana in Kampala on Friday, Works and Transport Minister John Nasasira said Uganda will start with the upgrading of Gulu-Nimule stretch to tarmac late this year. “The government of southern Sudan had already begun tarmacking the road from Juba to Nimule while Uganda is expected to begin tarmacking the road from Gulu to Nimule later this year.”

More roads

The other roads to be upgraded are Kaabong to Lotukei, Kitgum to Ikotos, and Arua-Kaya-Yei roads. “Since the two countries were created there hasn’t been a road in the Karamoja region. In the new projects, we want to construct one,” Eng. Nasasira said.

However, the 60 km stretch from Kaabong to Lotukei in Sudan will not be an easy sailing. It passes through the Kidepo Game Park and the Uganda Wildlife Authority has to sanction it, while in southern Sudan, a number of landmines have to be demined.

Construction of the railway line is also seen as the viable means to reduce the cost of the transportation of commodities like crude oil. According to a 2009 feasibility study, in the first 10 years of operations, after upgrading the Northern Uganda railway at the cost of Shs1.5 trillion, it will bring high economic growth.

Mr Makana said construction of a new 1,200-kilometre railway line between Uganda (Pakwach) and Sudan (Wau) will link the two countries to Alexandria in Egypt and Cape Town in South Africa.