Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has arrived in Kisumu at the invitation of Kenyan President William Ruto to participate in the launch of the Naivasha–Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a major infrastructure project aimed at strengthening transport links across East Africa.
The extension is designed to push Kenya’s modern rail network closer to the Ugandan border, forming a critical segment of the Northern Corridor that connects the port of Mombasa to inland markets.
President Museveni described the railway as a strategic investment that will significantly reduce the cost of transport, accelerate the movement of goods, and boost trade between the two neighboring countries and the wider region. Improved rail connectivity is expected to ease pressure on road transport, lower logistics costs for businesses, and enhance access to global markets for land-linked economies such as Uganda.
Kenyan President William Ruto has emphasized that the SGR extension is central to his government’s infrastructure agenda and regional integration strategy. Once completed, the line will facilitate faster cargo transit from the Indian Ocean coast to East Africa’s interior, supporting industrial growth, agricultural exports, and cross-border commerce. The project also signals renewed momentum toward a fully connected regional railway network envisioned by member states of the East African Community.
The launch ceremony in Kisumu highlights the deepening cooperation between Kenya and Uganda on large-scale development initiatives. Analysts say the railway could transform trade patterns in the region by making bulk transport cheaper, more reliable, and environmentally efficient compared to road haulage. Leaders from both countries expressed optimism that the project will drive economic transformation, job creation, and long-term stability across East Africa.
