In a move aimed at easing road congestion and improving commuter convenience, the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has unveiled a new commuter train service connecting Mukono to Kampala, set to begin operations on Monday, November 11, 2024.
The new service, long anticipated by daily commuters, is expected to provide a reliable, cost-effective alternative for travellers between the two cities.
The train schedule includes morning and evening trips to cater to peak commuter hours. In the mornings, the train will leave Mukono at 6:30 a.m., stop at Namanve at 7:05 a.m., and reach Kampala at 7:40 a.m. This service is anticipated to benefit early-morning commuters, particularly workers and students heading to the capital.
In the evening, two return services will operate from Kampala. The first departs at 5:30 p.m., stops in Namanve at 6:05 p.m., and offers a reverse route from Namanve back to Kampala at 6:15 p.m., arriving at 6:45 p.m. The second evening service leaves Kampala at 7:30 p.m., arrives in Namanve at 8:05 p.m., and concludes in Mukono at 8:30 p.m.
According to recent research, traffic congestion is estimated to cost Uganda USD 1.5 million daily, accounting for 4.2% of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA)’s GDP and 1.9% of Uganda’s total GDP.
As the primary economic hub, Kampala generates 75% of national revenue and contributes 64% to the national GDP.
However, traffic congestion, exacerbated by poor road conditions and insufficient infrastructure investment, is a significant obstacle to productivity.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) highlights that only 600 km out of Kampala’s 2,100 km road network is paved. Additionally, most paved roads—totalling 360 km—are over 35 years old and require extensive repairs, with reconstruction typically needed every 15–20 years.
Current funding for road maintenance stands at UGX 25 billion annually, a fraction of the UGX 100 billion required.
The URC has positioned the new service as an affordable alternative to road travel, with tickets priced at UGX 2,000 between Kampala and Namanve and UGX 3,000 for trips extending to Mukono.
This “Be Sure, Go Rail” initiative encourages Ugandans to embrace rail transport as a more sustainable, efficient solution to the city’s longstanding traffic issues.
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