East African Community Railway System to Boost Regional Trade

When Railway was introduced in East Africa

East African countries stand to benefit with enhanced region trade once East African Community (EAC) Railway system is rolled out. The master plan is in its advanced stages and will see Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Egypt and Southern Sudan linked. Sources reveal that if implemented, it will be the first time the region with a market base of more than 126 million people come up with a joint infrastructural project. The current, only line, Kenya-Uganda railway line was laid by the colonial governments decades ago. This will be a boost to the existing line.

Plans are still at conceptual level and when ministers meet in Arusha, Tanzania between March and April, they will tackle the remaining requirements, according to Mr Rashi Kibowa of the Ministry of East African Community Affairs Each member country will be required to contribute $1.5 million for the feasibility study and $10 million for construction of the railway that is expected to be completed in five years time. The East African Railways Master Plan was a directive of EAC April 2004 Heads of State Summit to link the region and neighbor countries for efficient trade.

According to EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu, cooperation with the EAC’s co-members in the Tripartite Taskforce, COMESA and SADC, is set to intensify as the three blocs work towards actualizing a Free Trade Area. With the signing of the EAC Common Market Protocol in November last year, which will allow free movement of people, goods, services and capital partner countries from July, and possible entry of Southern Sudan and DRC the poses as an investment powerhouse in Africa.

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