KAMPALA: Uganda plans to link a new railway line under development to Tanzania’s network, potentially creating an additional export corridor for minerals including gold, copper and iron ore, according to a government document seen by Reuters.
Uganda currently exports most of its commodities through Kenya’s port of Mombasa and has long sought to connect its Standard Gauge Railway to Kenya’s line.
The new proposal would extend a railway from the Tanzanian border through southern and south-western Uganda to Mpondwe, near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitating access to the port of Dar es Salaam.
The document said the project aims to connect mineral-rich regions in both countries to Dar es Salaam while reducing transport time and costs.
The African Development Bank said it was considering funding preparatory studies and would assess the project’s viability before committing financing.
