As Uganda moves to improve and develop the railways and water transport system, the government, led by State Minister for Transport, Fred Byamukama has on Wednesday witnessed the first shipping in of fuel from the Manna route via Port bell.
This ends a 17-year long wait for the resumption of activities and it is seen as a milestone in promotion of marine transport in the East African region and revitalization of the Central corridor route.
The first 50,000 liters of fuel have been transported via Lake Victoria from Mwanza, a test project adding this corridor to the Portbell, Kisumu route, through which 5 million litres of fuel have been imported since February 202.
Byamukama called upon the business community to use the revamped marine route adding that the government is committed to investing more funds in rehabilitating railway lines and water vessels to reduce track congestion on the road.
“When we use this transportation, our roads are saved, I was told that some roads before ten years are already spoiled due to heavy cargo. We are well aware that Uganda needs a lot of fuel and it is always imported .You can imagine so far, the tanks you have seen here ,its sample and I am happy that they have appreciated, “he said.
He noted that if all fuel companies use the road, there would be a lot of congestion, an increase in accidents and the roads will easily get damaged.
“Here, I don’t think the water will get spoiled, it’s just a matter of us to study this very well ,advertise it by ourselves to have those who are importing and exporting to use this very route, “he said
Stephen Wakasenza, the acting director Uganda Railways Corporation,decried limited allocation of funds to the parastatals which has slowed the rehabilitation of the existing marine vessels and purchase of the new ones
“We have shared our needs for the route, our many vessels we need over a 5 year period of time and that is being included in our planning. This is our trial cargo and we have brought close to 50,000 liters of fuel diesels but this route for your information has been rehabilitated ,80% has been rehabilitated from Dar es salaam to Mwanza ,that means that the transit time has reduced from four days to three days,”he said.
