Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport is progressing the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Turnkey (EPC/T) contract awarded to Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi for the Malaba–Kampala Standard Gauge Railway. The contractor is currently on a Limited Notice to Proceed, conducting design work, establishing a sleeper factory and construction camp, while full construction is targeted to begin in 2026. The contract binds Yapi Merkezi to ensure design compatibility with Kenya’s adjoining SGR network, and land acquisition along the corridor is well advanced.
Procurement Details
Key Issues / Risks
Full construction start delayed roughly nine months past initial launch; contractor still finalising design; financing terms under negotiation with lenders.
Latest Development (Detail)
Land acquisition has entered Mukono district and is expected to reach Wakiso and Kampala before construction ramps up; nine of twelve corridor districts have completed compensation as of late 2025.
What Happens Next
Full construction start (targeted April 2026 onward); financing close; interoperability testing with Kenya's SGR system.
Commercial Opportunity
Opportunities for local construction subcontractors, sleeper/track material suppliers, and logistics firms as the sleeper factory and construction camp are established.