Yapı Merkezi has signed a contract with the Ugandan government for the construction of the Malaba–Kampala railway, a major project spanning 273 kilometers.
The project, valued at approximately $3 billion (EUR 2.75 billion), includes the design, construction, and electrification of the standard-gauge railway, following European and American standards. The railway will feature a design speed of 120 km/h and include two major stations, four medium stations, a marshalling yard, and three freight terminals. Once operational, it is expected to have a capacity of 25 million tons per year, further linking Uganda with Kenya's Mombasa Port.
This contract replaces a previous agreement signed in 2015 with a Chinese company, which was annulled due to financing issues. Yapı Merkezi had submitted its proposal for the project in July 2023, and after completing negotiations, the final Letter of Award was received on September 24, 2024. The project is slated to begin construction this year.
The new railway will integrate with Kenya’s Naivasha–Malaba line, forming a critical link between Kampala and Mombasa. It will also be connected to the planned Kampala–Kasese (Western Line), which is expected to extend rail access to the Democratic Republic of Congo, further expanding East Africa’s rail network.
Yapı Merkezi has been active in Africa with ongoing rail projects, including the construction of a 1,250 km electrified railway in Tanzania.
