Advancing Regional Connectivity: The Northern Corridor Secretariat Promotes Multimodal Transport and Infrastructure Development

Kampala, Uganda | 10 – 11 March 2025 – The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) successfully convened multilateral meetings between Member States of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda to assess the progress of cross-border infrastructure and multimodal transport projects.

The high-level discussions brought together government ministries, agencies, and development partners to explore strategies for enhancing regional connectivity, trade facilitation, and policy harmonization

Key among discussions were;

Regional Road Projects:

• Mbarara-Kisangani Corridor (Uganda & DRC) – Improving a 940km vital trade route
• Nadapal-Turkana Road (South Sudan & Kenya) – Enhancing regional road access
• Moroto-Lokiriama-Lodwar Road (Uganda & Kenya) – Strengthening cross-border transport
• Nadapal-Kapoeta-Torit-Nesitu Road (South Sudan) – Facilitating smoother trade and mobility

Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) & Inland Waterways Progress
Kenya & Uganda:

• Reviewing policy harmonization to ensure efficient rail connectivity and inland water transport improvements

Lake Transport & Port Connectivity Initiatives

• Lake Tanganyika (DRC & Burundi) – Enhancing Bujumbura & Kalundu Ports
• Lake Kivu (DRC & Rwanda) – Upgrading Rubavu, Goma, Karongi, Rusizi & Bukavu Ports
• Lake Victoria (Kenya & Uganda) – Modernizing Kisumu, Port Bell & Jinja Ports

Speaking at the event, Hon. Bageya Waiswa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda, emphasized the need for stronger regional collaboration, policy harmonization, and joint financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of key transport infrastructure projects.

In his remarks, Dr. John Deng Diar Diing, Executive Secretary of NCTTCA, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation, advancing multimodal transport solutions, and mobilizing resources to ensure a seamless Northern Corridor transport network.

The meetings aimed to provide stakeholders and donors with a comprehensive understanding of the condition of transport infrastructure, including railways, roads, logistics hubs, and lake port connectivity. A key outcome will be a detailed report on the state of transport infrastructure, which will serve as a critical resource for mobilizing funds for future improvements.

The discussions underscored the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs), donor engagement, and regional cooperation in aligning policies, mobilizing funding, and executing priority transport projects.