{UAH} RETURN OF KAYOLA

Trains return to Uganda capital

PARTNERSHIP: Eng. Kateeba is flanked by Ouma on the left and Charles Ssentongo of RVR during the news conference last week.

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Uganda Railways Corporation in partnership with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)and Rift Valley Railway Uganda Limited(RVRU) have announced the launch of commuter passenger train services which is expected to kick off next week. 

"Under the agreement URC will be in charge of selling tickets and customer care where as RVR will operate the train, construct the maintain  the station  and  halts at Kampala, Nakawa, Kireka  and Namanve  and Government through  KCCA  will provide  financial support  to cover  the shortfall  on income  against operational  costs," the URC Managing Director  Eng. Charles Kateeba told a news conference last week.

He said the passenger services will be piloted between Kampala and Wakiso district in central Uganda.

The resumption of the train services comes after the three Entities had signed passenger services agreement in November to run the service as a pilot project for one year.

According to URC the passenger trains have capacity to transport about 1000 passenger per trip  and the travellers will have to pay about Ush1500 (nearly 50 US cents) per trip which URC says its cheap and convenient  as compared to being stuck in traffic jams during peak hours.

To see that the project is implemented without any incumbencies, Government through KCCA has released Ush 1 Billion or USD$ 290000 to support the pilot project. When asked if the participating Entities have planned to introduce the same services to other routes in the country URC said the information from the piloting project will guide them. "The  results  of the pilot  will give us the necessary data and information to gauge  the viability of this  and other routes  by understanding  the passenger  numbers and other  variables  so we  can make  affirm  decision  on how  to proceed  with  commuter rail services in Kampala," Kateeba said.

The commuter  rail  forms  an integral part of KCCA's long term  transport  master plan,  because  it will help  to reduce  the pressure on   the  roads.

When asked if the new service will not adversely affect the road transport system operated by the taxi's in the city, Charles Ouma the Deputy Director Policy and Legal services at KCCA told East African BusinessWeek the taxis will continue operating in the route as usual. "KCCA has no intention of phasing out the operation of taxis in the city.  What we want is to improve the transport system  such that  we solve some challenges associated  with road transport in the city" he said.

By Samuel Nabwiiso, Sunday, December 06th, 2015

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

"But this I know, UPC believed and still believes in

very high education. We can call Obote all bad names we have, but the bottom line remains that he got more scholarships for Buganda than all previous Uganda leaders combined. That includes Sir Edward Mutesa, President Lule, President Binayisa, up to and into Ssabasajja Mutebi. Who all happen to be Baganda leaders." Mulindwa

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