Safety concerns have forced the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) to suspend the only passenger train service running between Kampala and Namanve.
This abrupt decision follows alarming reports about the deteriorating condition of the rail line, particularly at the Mbuya-Kinawataka stretch.
According to URC officials, water from the nearby Kinawataka swamp has eroded the ground beneath the tracks, leaving the rails dangerously exposed and unstable.
With only a few feet of solid ground remaining, the risk of a potential disaster has prompted the corporation to halt operations until repairs can ensure passenger safety.
Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is concerned that if immediate action isn’t taken, the rail could collapse, causing a derailment that would be catastrophic.
URC hasn’t provided a specific timeline for when the repairs will be completed, but John Lennon Sengendo, the head of public relations, estimates the work will take about two weeks.
“We are reinforcing the tracks in the Katoogo area, where the rail was beginning to sink due to water eroding the ground, which was worsened by garbage blocking the drainage,” Sengendo explained.
He urged residents to stop dumping waste into the drainage channels, as this has caused the blockage.
Sengendo also noted that the small space around the tracks is making repairs difficult, as workers are placing materials across the railway, which is why services had to be suspended.
He added that URC aims to complete the work soon, especially with the upcoming Uganda-South Sudan Africa Cup of Nations match at Namboole Stadium, where demand for train services will be high.
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