Kenya’s SGR Freight to Uganda Grows 45% on Efficiency Gains

Kenya Railways reports a 45% year-on-year increase in cargo volume to Uganda via the Standard Gauge Railway in 2023. The Nairobi–Malaba corridor moved 2.1 million tonnes of cement, sugar, machinery, and grain, cutting transit time from 3 days to 12 hours. Uganda Railway Corporation data shows 70% of Kampala-bound imports now use SGR. Revenue from cross-border freight hit Ksh9.3 billion. Kenya Railways is upgrading the Malaba terminal and plans a dry port in Kampala by 2025. The growth underscores SGR’s role in EAC integration and decongesting the Northern Corridor.