Uganda Railways Corporation Appoints New Board

The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors to guide the state-owned enterprise through a phase of modernisation and infrastructure growth.

The Board is chaired by Hon. Daudi Migereko. Other members include Ms Faridah Mayanja Mpiima, Mrs Ruth Asiimwe Kanyaruju, Mr Peter Isingoma, Hon. Florence Hashaka Kabahweza, Eng. Benjamin Olobo, Mr Hannington Ashaba representing the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), Mr Nelson Rwenaga representing the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), and Mr Benon M. Kajuna, the URC Managing Director.

URC operates under the Ministry of Works and Transport and is responsible for developing, operating, and maintaining railway, marine, and road transport services for passengers and cargo.

Its key services include daily commuter trains between Kampala and Mukono, freight transport from the Port of Mombasa to Kampala via Malaba, marine ferry services on Lake Victoria, warehousing at Inland Container Depots, and locomotive repair workshops in Nalukolongo.

The corporation is currently implementing major infrastructure projects. These include rehabilitation of the Meter Gauge Railway on the Malaba–Mukono and Tororo–Gulu lines with support from the African Development Bank, development of the Standard Gauge Railway network covering 1,724 kilometres with construction of the Malaba–Kampala section expected to begin in April 2026, acquisition of 10 new diesel-electric locomotives, and implementation of the URC Strategic Plan 2025–2030 aimed at making the corporation commercially sustainable.

In addition to rail services, URC operates marine transport on Lake Victoria using wagon ferries such as MV Kaawa and MV Pamba, manages docking facilities at Port Bell and Jinja Pier, and provides customs storage and clearance services at several depots.

The new Board is expected to strengthen URC’s modernisation efforts, improve operational efficiency, and support regional trade through better rail and marine transport infrastructure.