The rehabilitation works on the Busembatia-Jinja railway line stretch are 70% complete, according to Multiplex Ltd, the company hired to carry out the repairs.

Multiplex was awarded a tender early this year to repair nine culverts between Jinja and Busembatia in Iganga district. The project will cost $5.4m (Shs 14bn).

A press statement from the Rift valley Railways (RVR) indicates that todate, Multiplex has completed most of the pre-casting work for the concrete culverts with a higher hydraulic capacity which will replace the nine culverts that are worn out.

"We are pleased with the progress being made to replace the nine culverts between Jinja and Busembatia. This project is crucial in increasing the capacity of goods coming into Uganda as well as improving transit times," said Ngugi Kiuna, the RVR board chairman.

In preparation for the culverts replacement, Multiplex has also opened up new access roads to the line with one new murram road constructed in Busembatia, connecting Tirinyi road to the railway line.

Within five years, it is expected that a 365 wagon rehabilitation project through a German KFW grant and an overhaul of eight locomotives will be done. Today, 70 wagons have been overhauled at the Nalukolongo railway workshop and work on locomotive overhaul has commenced.

A completed railway line will help lower transport costs that are eating into traders' profits.