Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Railways Corporation has officially relaunched operations of MV Kaawa after a successful rehabilitation, restoring a critical cargo link across Lake Victoria.
The move is part of URC’s broader effort to reduce transport costs and boost regional trade by reviving water-based freight routes.
URC spokesperson John Linonn Ssengendo said the vessel is now fully operational and ready to resume services on the Port Bell–Mwanza and Port Bell–Kisumu routes.
“The water vessel had deep sailed for a long time, so it needed repairs. Towards the end of last year, rehabilitation works began. Now, it is fully ready to transport cargo and serve Ugandans better,” he said.
The extensive maintenance included steel reinforcement, a portside engine overhaul, improvements to the fuel injection system, and replacement of the hydrophore tank.
According to URC, MV Kaawa can carry up to 880 tonnes of cargo using roll-on wagons and up to 1,200 tonnes on deck.
Each voyage from Port Bell to Mwanza takes around 18 hours, while the Kisumu trip lasts about 16 hours — significantly faster than most road transport options.
“Water transport is more cost-effective, with freight charges as low as 15 dollars per tonne,” Ssengendo said. “It’s also environmentally friendly and helps us tap into the Dar es Salaam port via Mwanza.”
The restoration of MV Kaawa is expected to complement the operations of its sister vessel, MV Pamba, strengthening Uganda’s logistics chain via Lake Victoria and reducing overreliance on road transport.
URC is also preparing for a major expansion in its cargo capacity. The corporation has opened bidding for the supply of 100 high-capacity wagons.
Ten firms have so far submitted proposals out of the 42 that were issued bidding documents.
Currently, the URC’s lake and rail system transports exports such as timber, iron sheets, cosmetics, tyres, spirits, human medicine, and electric poles.
Imports include rice, wheat, animal feeds, general merchandise, and additional building materials.
The revamped lake transport system is being hailed as a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution that could play a pivotal role in easing Uganda’s freight burden and improving regional integration.
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