Uganda, Kenya agree on key SGR technical standards Land acquisition now in final 3 districts of Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala

Uganda and Kenya have agreed on a raft of technical and policy positions for the development of a seamless Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) system between the two countries.

The agreement follows 3-days Bilateral meeting between Uganda and Kenya on the “SGR interoperability/Technical harmonization” that ended over the weekend (November 12- 14, 2025).

Kenya’s SGR employs Chinese standards, while Uganda is adopting mostly European standards. These standards differ in certain technical parameters, yet they can be harmonized through structured engineering collaboration.

Development of the SGR project is gaining momentum. Since November 17, 2025, land acquisition entered Mukono and is steadily expected to reach Wakiso and Kampala before end of 2025 with financial literacy trainings, disclosure of compensation values and ultimately compensation. So far, nine out of the 12 corridor districts have been compensated.

During the bilateral meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport Waiswa Bageya noted that total harmonization is a contractual and regional requirement.

“The EPC/T Contract places a binding obligation on the Contractor-Yapi Merkezi, to ensure that the design, systems, and components are fully compatible and interoperable with adjoining networks, particularly Kenya SGR,” said Bageya.

During the three-day interactions, the two states reviewed and agreed on the Interoperability which captures how the two systems (European and Chinese) can work harmoniously creating an integrated railway system for the Northern Corridor.

“This involves aligning the Uganda design with the Kenyan SGR, including but not limited to track, structures, traction power, signaling, communications, rolling stock, and operations among others,” noted Bageya.

Uganda signed an Engineering Procurement Construction/Turnkey (EPC/T) contract for the Malaba-Kampala SGR in October 2024 with Yapi Merkezi and also procured a

supervising consultant SSF JV. Currently, early works have commenced under a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) arrangement.

The EPC/T contract will come into full force early next year 2026 but under the LNTP, the contractor is undertaking preliminary and detailed designs while a sleeper factory and a construction camp will be set up during these nine months.

SGR Uganda Project Coordinator Canon Eng. Perez Wamburu commended Kenya for the progress and achievements made in developing Kenya’s SGR. He explained that Uganda had adapted several standards including AREMA, European Norms (EN), and UIC standards for its SGR.

“Differing standards do not preclude seamless interoperability; rather, refining specifications within these standards can achieve the required compatibility between the Ugandan and Kenyan SGR systems,” noted Wamburu.

Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala called for a conclusion to the discussions urging both countries to provide a structured roadmap.

“The agreed positions, as contained in the signed Bilateral Report of this meeting, are binding on the parties and their agents, and they form a solid basis for the design of the Uganda SGR system wherever it interfaces with Kenya,” noted Gen. Katumba in a speech read by Fred Byamukama, the State Minister of Works & Transport.

The Kenyan delegation was led by Wendy Maina, deputy director Rail Transport Directorate at Kenya’s ministry of roads and transport. Kenya provided detailed status updates on the Mombasa–Nairobi–Naivasha SGR, plans for the Naivasha–Kisumu– Malaba sections, and the associated rolling stock, signaling, and operational plans including future electrification.

The Kenyan team disclosed that land acquisition and compensation of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) have commenced for Phase 2B (Naivasha – Kisumu-262km). A commercial contract is in place with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the contractor for Phase 2A (Nairobi – Naivasha (120km), who will also work on Phase 2B.

Kenya and Uganda agreed to continue sharing data, design, and operation insights and the Uganda technical team including the Contractor and Consultant to have a physical experiential visit to the Kenya system by December 2025. 

For more information, please contact SGR Uganda Project: Tel: +256312253800, info@sgr.go.ug, @SGR_Uganda