The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has announced a new completion date for the long-awaited Tororo–Gulu railway line, pushing the timeline from February to October 2026.
The 375-kilometre railway, which is currently under rehabilitation, is now seeing increased activity across several sections.
According to URC, construction is progressing steadily, with earthworks already underway in Gulu and materials such as steel and gravel being laid at a faster pace.
“Work is moving fast across the line, and in a few months, we expect to be ready,” the corporation said in an update released on Tuesday.
The Tororo–Gulu railway is part of Uganda’s metre-gauge network, linking the eastern town of Tororo to Gulu.
The line passes through key urban centres including Mbale, Soroti and Lira, helping connect eastern and northern regions.
This railway also links to Kenya’s rail system and the port of Mombasa, making it a vital route for trade.
It forms part of the Northern Corridor, a key transport network that supports movement of goods between Uganda and neighboring countries such as Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Over the weekend, President Yoweri Museveni emphasized the importance of railway development while attending an event in Kisumu alongside Kenya’s President William Ruto.
The leaders launched construction of the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway extension, highlighting efforts to improve regional connectivity.
The Tororo–Gulu rehabilitation project began in 2020 at an estimated cost of about $46.
7 million.
It is supported by partners including the European Union, while the African Development Bank has committed additional funding to upgrade other sections of Uganda’s railway network.
Despite the progress, the project has faced several challenges.
These include procurement concerns, delays in funding, and coordination issues.
Lawmakers have also raised questions about some contracts linked to the works.
Other obstacles such as land acquisition problems, limited budget releases, and shifting focus between metre-gauge and standard gauge railway projects have slowed implementation.
The Tororo–Gulu line, once a key transport route, had been largely inactive for decades before rehabilitation efforts began.
Its revival is expected to reduce transport costs, improve trade, and boost economic activity across the region once completed.
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