Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has temporarily halted its sole passenger train service, citing safety concerns along the Kampala-Namanve route.
The suspension follows an assessment by URC’s technical team, which identified a critical issue along the Mbuya-Kinawataka stretch. Water from the Kinawataka swamp has eroded the ground, leaving minimal support beneath the railway tracks.
URC warns that if the situation is not resolved swiftly, the rail line may collapse, posing a risk of derailment.
While there is no definite timeline for the completion of repairs, URC estimates that the work could take two weeks. The ongoing efforts focus on stabilizing the rail embankment at the Katoogo area, which has been affected by water damage due to blocked drainage.
URC also urged local residents to stop dumping garbage into drainage channels, as this has contributed to the blockage and subsequent erosion. The need to resume train services is also driven by the upcoming Uganda-South Sudan Africa Cup of Nations match at Mandela National Stadium, where demand for rail transport is expected to increase.