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Uganda’s finance ministry says the AfDB has set aside $650 million for a 326‑km standard gauge railway, part of a $3.15 billion plan to cut shipping costs.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has tentatively allocated $650 million to finance Uganda’s 326‑kilometre standard gauge railway (SGR) project, according to the Ugandan finance ministry [1]. The funding was announced by AfDB acting vice‑president Abdul Kamara during the bank’s annual meetings in Brazzaville, with final financing arrangements to be reviewed next month [1].
Key takeaways
During the AfDB’s annual meetings in Brazzaville, acting vice‑president Abdul Kamara conveyed the bank’s tentative $650 million pledge for Uganda’s SGR project [1]. The announcement came as part of broader discussions on Africa’s infrastructure financing, a theme highlighted at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the AfDB Group. While the exact terms of the financing remain to be finalized, the ministry expects a review mission next month to confirm the arrangement [1].
The railway, awarded to Turkish contractor Yapi Merkezi in 2024, will stretch 326 km across Uganda [1]. With an overall cost estimate of $3.15 billion, the project is positioned to reduce freight costs and accelerate cargo transit for Uganda, which currently depends on overland routes through Kenya [1]. By improving transport efficiency, the line is intended to bolster Uganda’s trade competitiveness and support its status as a landlocked economy.
The AfDB’s provisional funding signals a significant step toward closing Uganda’s infrastructure financing gap, a key obstacle for many African economies. If the financing is secured, the railway could transform regional logistics, lower import‑export expenses, and attract further private investment into Uganda’s transport sector. The upcoming review mission will determine the final structure of the AfDB’s support, shaping the timeline and scale of the project’s implementation.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 3 outlets · Jun 1, 2026 · How we report
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