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Uganda: Jinja Rail Repairs to Last 3 Weeks
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New Vision (Kampala)
14 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Mikaili Sseppuya
Kampala
REPAIR works on the collapsed culvert along Iganga-Jinja railway line will take three to four weeks. This period includes inspection and repairs on other risky sites, Rodney Boy, the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) chief concession manager, said.
He disclosed that RVR was exploring moving Mombasa freight through Kisumu as part of the measures to minimise the disruption of flow of transit cargo to and from the port.
"RVR has eight locomotives on the Tororo side and these will assist in moving goods destined for Uganda through Kisumu as one of the options," Boy explained. The Dar-es-Salaam freight would be moved via Mwanza to Port Bell and then to Kampala, he added.
The Jinja-Iganga railway line collapsed last week after heavy rains damaged the culverts. Boy said RVR was fast-tracking the repair works on the collapsed culverts. He said engineers and insurance experts from AON had been on site to assess the damage.
"We want to ensure that the entire line is sound and all heavy machinery required for the repairs is being moved to Jinja as quickly as possible because we understand the significance of rail transport to the economy of Uganda and the region," said Boy.
RVR also said it was providing special provision for its customers to access their goods for trans-shipment.
"We are providing crane services for trans-shipment of containerised goods at an alternate site within Uganda but liquid and semi-liquid cargo will be routed through Kisumu," said Godfrey Tindimwebwa, the RVR commercial manager. He said RVR was exploring stations like Iganga, Busembatya and Tororo, which would be converted to off-loading sites for freight from Mombasa and Nairobi.
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"We have been assured of support from the customs officials who will help RVR operate from a suitable location," he said.
Since the rains damaged the culverts, RVR moved in quickly to clear the blocked culvert to ease water pressure caused by the rains. This allowed the excavation works aimed at doubling the reinforcement to proceed. RVR was recently commended by the Kenya government for keeping the Mombasa-Kampala railway line operational during the disputed December 27 post-election violence.
"We would like to assure our customers and all Ugandans that we are totally committed to doing all we can to reduce the impact of this unfortunate occurrence just as we committed to protect the line in Kenya," Boy explained.
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