The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, has officially signed a contract to construct the 272 kilometer-169-mile Tororo - Malaba Standard Gauge Railway line section with a Turkish firm, Yapı Merkezi.

This agreement marks the beginning of a larger initiative to develop a 1,700-kilometer electric rail line, with the initial 272 Km segment set to cost approximately Ugx 10.9 trillion (2.7 billion euros.

The project is expected to enhance trade and lower transportation costs, as highlighted by Bageya Waiswa, Permanent Secretary of the Works Ministry, during the signing ceremony. Waiswa and Yapı Merkezi’s Holdings Vice Chairman Erdem Arıoğlu signed the agreement, with the attendance of Uganda's Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, and Turkish Ambassador Fatih Ak.

The Permanent Secretary noted that funding for the project will come from Uganda's own resources and loans from export credit agencies. The construction is expected to be completed within 48 months upon commencement.

The railway will connect the capital, Kampala, to Malaba, near the Kenyan border, linking landlocked Uganda to Kenya's rail network and providing access to the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa. Ambassador Ak reaffirmed Turkey’s dedication to sharing its railway expertise to modernize Uganda's infrastructure.

In 2015, Uganda had initially partnered with China Harbour and Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) for this project, contingent on securing Chinese government funding. However, after prolonged discussions and lack of support from the China Exim Bank, Uganda terminated that agreement last year and engaged Yapı Merkezi, which is also working on a similar railway project in neighboring Tanzania.

In Tanzania, Yapı Merkezi has been instrumental in constructing a 1,219-kilometer standard gauge railway aimed at facilitating trade with Uganda and other countries in the region.