William Ruto Launches the Extension of the SGR Railway to Uganda, Museveni Comes to Witness

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni joined President William Ruto in Kisumu for the inauguration of Phase 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway
The expansion from Naivasha to the Ugandan border is expected to boost the economy of western Kenya and strengthen regional trade relations.
Ruto appreciated the SGR’s role in reducing transport costs and driving integration in East and Central Africa, while Museveni hailed it as a catalyst for industrial growth and youth opportunities.

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda arrived Poisonous Saturday, March 21, to attend the inauguration ceremony of Phase 2C of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto in Kisumu. Photo: Yoweri Museveni.
Source: Twitter

The railway section will start from Naivasha to the border of Ugandapassing through Kisumu.

The inauguration of Kibos was led by the President William Ruto along with other government officials.

According to the government of Kenya Firstthe expansion is expected to boost economic growth across western Kenya.

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Just a day earlier, on March 20, Ruto was in Narok to launch Phase 2B of the route to Kisumu, stressing its importance in unlocking the full potential of the railway.

He explained that the SGR is not yet complete as it has not yet reached the important production centers in western Kenya.

The current terminus at Narok is not connected to the Kisumu lake transport system, reducing its capacity to handle the full volume of freight that sustains a modern rail economy in East Africa.

Ruto emphasized that the volume of cargo from the port of Mombasa reached 7.37 million tons in the first half of 2025, with almost 70% going to Uganda.

Speaking in Kisumu, Ruto explained that the railway will connect East and Central Africa as well as facilitate trade for mutual benefit.

“Beyond Kenya and Uganda, this railway will serve our partner countries in the region, including Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. It is a powerful statement of regional integration, cooperation, and shared aspirations,” he said.

Ruto noted that the region has experienced high costs and delays in transporting goods for a very long time.

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He stressed that the new route will directly address the burden of high transport costs.

“In most cases, transport and related costs account for between 30% and 40% of the final value of the product. Cargo takes, on average, 80 hours to move from Mombasa to Malaba, and more than 100 hours to reach Kampala,” he noted.

He added that the expanded SGR will provide a modern and effective solution to these challenges.

“We cannot build prosperity without efficiency. That is why we must invest in modern and efficient transport systems and connections not only as means of transport, but also as economic means,” he said.

Ruto further explained that the railway will attract more investment designed to benefit society beyond the transport sector.

He described the road as a source of unlimited income for those living along its route as the government intends to build industrial parks and other facilities suitable for business activities.

“Along this Mombasa-Malaba route, we will promote the development of industrial parks, transportation centers, and business centers driven by private sector investment and placed in regional integration. This is a proven system, which has provided rapid change by connecting infrastructure with industry, trade, and investment,” he said.