Uganda hails Kenya's decision to extend railway to border town

KAMPALA, June 8 (Xinhua) --

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday hailed the decision of his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto to extend the construction of the Standard Guage Railway (SGR) to the border town of Malaba.

Museveni, in a televised address to the nation, said Ruto's decision to extend the construction of the SGR from Kenya's Naivasha to the common eastern border town of Malaba would expedite its connection to the Ugandan capital of Kampala.

"Government is expediting the construction of the SGR, starting the next financial year 2023/24, starting with Malaba to Kampala," said Museveni.

When the SGR is completed in Uganda, it will link Uganda with neighboring countries of Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

Museveni said the rehabilitation of the Tororo-Gulu Meter Gauge Railway and Kampala-Malaba Meter Gauge Railway is underway.