Uganda eyes Tanzania rail link to boost East Africa trade

Uganda is stepping up efforts to strengthen its position in East Africa’s trade network, with plans to link its Standard Gauge Railway to Tanzania’s rail system.

The proposal could give the landlocked country a second route to the Indian Ocean and ease pressure on existing export corridors. 

Details outlined in a government document show Kampala is studying how the new line could connect to Tanzania’s network and on to the port of Dar es Salaam.

For years, most of Uganda’s exports have moved through Kenya’s port of Mombasa, leaving the economy exposed to delays and bottlenecks along a single corridor. 

Officials say a southern link would offer exporters more options at a time when regional trade is expanding and competition for logistics efficiency is growing.

Faster rail connections could help lower shipping costs for key exports such as gold, copper and iron ore. 

The plan reflects broader efforts across East Africa to improve cross-border infrastructure and support industrial growth.

For Uganda, improved rail access is seen as critical to unlocking mineral-rich regions and attracting long-term investment.

A new southern corridor 

Under the proposal, the railway would run from the Tanzania border through southern and southwestern Uganda, ending at Mpondwe on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The route would connect resource-rich areas in both Uganda and Tanzania to Dar es Salaam, creating a corridor that could also serve eastern Congo in the future. 

“The main objective of the project is to connect the vast and mineral-rich regions of both countries to the port of Dar es Salaam while saving time and transportation costs,” the Ministry of Works and Transport said in the document. 

Uganda is already working to link its Standard Gauge Railway to Kenya’s system, a project that remains under development.

A connection to Tanzania would provide an additional outlet for exports and reduce reliance on one maritime route.

Funding under review 

The African Development Bank is being considered as a potential financier.

The lender said it is reviewing a request to support preparation work for the rail project and could consider financing the construction if feasibility studies show it is viable. 

If approved, the link would strengthen regional trade ties and give Ugandan exporters more reliable access to global markets, reinforcing the country’s role in East Africa’s transport network.