Key Highlights
Uganda is planning to connect its new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Tanzania's railway network, providing direct access to the port of Dar es Salaam.
The railway link aims to create a new export route for minerals like gold, copper, and iron ore, reducing Uganda's reliance on Kenya's Mombasa port.
The African Development Bank may fund feasibility and preparation studies for the project.
Nigeria's 283.75-kilometre Kano-Maradi railway project, initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari, serves as a similar example of cross-border infrastructure development to promote regional trade.
Uganda is set to enhance its export capabilities and reduce its reliance on Kenyan ports by linking its new railway line to Tanzania. According to a Reuters report on February 23, 2026, citing a government document from Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport, this connection will provide a direct route to the port of Dar es Salaam, primarily aimed at facilitating the export of minerals such as gold, copper, and iron ore.
The proposed railway connection will integrate Uganda’s network with Tanzania’s system. This integration is expected to lower transport time and export costs for Uganda's mineral sector, offering an alternative to Kenya’s main seaport in Mombasa.
Uganda is already constructing a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to connect its mineral-producing regions to Kenya. The new initiative will extend this network to Tanzania’s railway system and the port of Dar es Salaam, creating an alternative outlet for mineral exports.
The project is intended to link mineral-rich areas in both countries to Dar es Salaam. The African Development Bank may fund feasibility and preparation studies. This railway connection is viewed as part of a broader regional integration effort within East Africa, potentially linking Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to enhance cross-border trade and logistics efficiency.
The Democratic Republic of Congo could potentially connect to the railway network in the future, further expanding the project's regional impact.
If completed, the railway could strengthen trade ties between East African countries and reduce overdependence on a single export corridor.
Nigeria’s 283.75-kilometre Kano-Maradi railway project, an initiative of former President Muhammadu Buhari, serves as a comparable example of efforts to strengthen cross-border infrastructure and regional trade. This project is designed to connect Kano in northern Nigeria with Maradi in Niger Republic, passing through Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states.
The Kano-Maradi railway aims to streamline freight and passenger movement, integrate with existing transport networks, and promote regional trade and economic growth, reflecting the broader infrastructure drive pursued during the Buhari administration.
