Uganda Railways Corporation is assessing bids from firms in China and South Korea for a $48 million contract to supply ten diesel-electric locomotives. These locomotives will support the rehabilitated Tororo-Gulu route and enhance cargo transport capacity. The project aims to address the declining infrastructure contributing to reduced cargo volumes, part of a broader railway revitalization effort.
The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is currently assessing bids from Chinese and South Korean entities for a lucrative $48 million contract to supply ten new diesel-electric locomotives. This tender, which closed on March 7, attracted submissions from four major firms, including China Shandong International Limited, CRRC Qishuyan Company Limited, Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Limited, and South Korea’s Dalian Lambo Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
URC spokesperson John Linonn Sengendo indicated that the newly acquired locomotives will be utilized on the Tororo-Gulu route, which is undergoing rehabilitation, and will enhance operations on the main line from Malaba to Kampala. “The contractor has given December this year as the deadline to handover the complete project, which is 10 months from now,” Mr. Sengendo elaborated, referring to the upgrades on the Tororo-Gulu line.
The rehabilitation project of the 375 km Tororo-Gulu line, backed by the Ugandan government with a budget of Shs199.9 billion ($54.14 million), is projected for completion by December 2025. This initiative encompasses improvements in drainage systems, construction of new culverts, earthworks, relocation of utilities, the restoration of five steel girder bridges, and railway track relaying, including ballasting.
URC is concurrently revamping the 265 km Malaba-Mukono track as part of a comprehensive five-year revitalization plan for the railway system, funded by the African Development Bank. This $301 million initiative includes the acquisition of new wagons, a multi-purpose water vessel, rehabilitation of railway stations and ports, procurement of diesel multiple units, level crossing automation, and the construction of concrete sleeper lines.
Currently, according to URC Managing Director Benon Kajuna, the corporation is handling only 250,000 tonnes of cargo per year, significantly diminishing from one million tonnes in 2006. The decline in cargo volume is largely attributed to the aged infrastructure, which is being addressed through the African Development Bank initiatives, as noted by Mr. Sengendo. Additionally, the railway line constitutes a crucial segment of the East African Community’s Northern Corridor, linking Kampala to the coastal seaport of Mombasa, Kenya.
In summary, Uganda Railways Corporation is evaluating proposals from Chinese and South Korean firms for a $48 million project to procure ten diesel-electric locomotives. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to rehabilitate the Tororo-Gulu rail line and enhance goods transport capacity, addressing the significant infrastructure decline contributing to reduced cargo volumes. Notably, these projects are integral to restoring the railway network within the East African Community’s transportation framework.
Original Source: www.pmldaily.com
