On March 21, 2026, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and William Samoei Ruto officially launched the expansion of a major railway line that will connect their countries and extend to Rwanda.
The railway will pass through key locations in Kenya, including Naivasha, Kisumu, and Malaba, before continuing to Kampala in Uganda. From there, construction will proceed toward Rwanda.
The project is also expected to extend further to Bujumbura in Burundi, as well as into Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Central African Republic.
President Museveni outlined the planned routes, stating that the railway will connect Malaba to Kampala, then extend through Kasese and Mpondwe into eastern DRC. Another line will run from Tororo to Gulu and Nimule, reaching Juba, while a separate stretch will link Bihanga to Kigali.
President Ruto highlighted the economic benefits of the project, noting it will create jobs for young people and strengthen regional integration within the East African Community. He emphasized that the railway will significantly ease the movement of people and goods from Mombasa through Nairobi and Kampala, extending across the region reducing travel time from days to just hours.
The Kenya-Uganda section of the railway is expected to cover 643 kilometers and cost approximately $8.5 billion.