Uganda Railways Corporation

Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is the parastatal railway of Uganda. It was formed after the breakup of the East African Railways Corporation (EARC) in 1977 when it took over the Ugandan part of the East African railways.

URC’s system is rooted in the British colonial metre gauge Uganda Railway that was transformed after World War I into the EARC. Its operation after the demise of the EARC had been hampered by civil war and inefficient management in Uganda. Only the 5 mile, 8 km line between Kampala and Port Bell and the 120 mile main line from Kampala to the Kenyan border at Tororo remain in use.

In 1989, government soldiers massacred sixty civilians at Mukura railway station.

Recently prospects for the URC have improved. Uganda Railways have been joint recipients of [http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards2001/bombardier.html the 2001 Worldaware Business Award] for "assisting economic and social development through the provision of appropriate, sustainable and environmentally complementary transport infrastructure". The [http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/update/railways.html Uganda Railways Update Report] gives details of management improvement.

South Africa Involvement

In 2005 Rift Valley Railways Consortium from South Africa was awarded a concession to manage URC and Kenya Railways [ [http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/eng/sector/transport/?show=75985 Background information] ] RVRC was scheduled to take over operations on August 1, 2006. On July 28, 2006 the East African Standard reported that the planned take-over was postponed to November 1, 2006. [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200607280144.html Postponed Take-over, accessed July 31, 2006] ] This operational take-over took place in November and is scheduled to last for 25 years. [ [http://business.iafrica.com/african_business/369303.htm "SA Firm gets "Lunatic Express" railway, accessed 12-18-2006] ] Robert E. Mortensen, a 30-year veteran of Conrail who later led Railroad Development Corporation efforts in Mozambique and Malawi, served as Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Railways Corporation from August 1, 2006 until October 30, 2006. He is now the Chief Executive Officer of Rift Valley Railways Uganda Limited. Rift Valley Railways Uganda Limited [as concessionaire] took over rail operations from Uganda Railways Corporation on November 1, 2006. Mr. Noel Muhangi of Kateera and Kagumire Advocates became Ag. Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Railways Corporation with effect from November 1, 2006.

On October 9, 2008, Toll Holdings of Australia announced that it has entered into a contract to manage the Kenya-Uganda railway, replacing the management by Rift Valley Railways Consortium (RVR). The consortium has been criticized for falling freight traffic in the two years since taking control, while RVR alleges the drop is due to the poor condition of the railway infrastructure and the damage done by protesters during the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis. Officers from Toll subsidiary Patrick Defence Logistics will manage the railway after the transition. [cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24472435-643,00.html| title=Toll to manage Kenya-Uganda railway| work=The Australian| author=Speedy, Blair| date=October 10, 2008| accessmonthday=October 11| accessyear=2008| ]

2008 Kenya crisis

The 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis included destructive riots that blocked and partly destroyed the rail system between Kenya and Uganda leading to economic difficulties in supply for Uganda. Further, destruction and loss of income led to significant financial losses. [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200802111925.html Albert Ahabwe. Kenya: Railway Transport Also Paralysed. African Business Week (Kampala), 11 February 2008, accessed 2/13/2008] ]

References

See also

* Uganda Railway
* Kenya Railways
* Transport in Uganda
* Transport in Kenya