Electrified SGR hailed as milestone in EAC integration
ARUSHA: OUTGOING Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), Kenyan President, William Ruto has praised Tanzania’s electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as a landmark infrastructure project that is transforming the railway sector and advancing regional integration.
Dr Ruto made the remarks on Saturday during the 25th Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State in Arusha, highlighting the railway’s role in boosting connectivity, trade and passenger transport across the bloc.
“The Tanzanian SGR services, which began on June 14th 2024, carry an average of 10,000 passengers daily playing between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. Freight services from Pugu Station to Ihumwa ICF started on June 27 last year, a significant stride for our community,” he said.
Tanzania is the first EAC country to construct a fully electrified SGR. While some sections are already operational, others remain under construction as part of a multi-phase national infrastructure programme.
The historic railway starts at Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub and passes through key economic centres including Morogoro to Dodoma.
It will extend services to Tabora, Kigoma and Mwanza. Tanzania has also partnered with Burundi to build a cross-border electric SGR connecting Uvinza in Tanzania’s Kigoma Region to Musongati in Burundi.
Dr Ruto said that the SGR is vital for promoting regional infrastructure connectivity, reducing logistics costs and boosting the EAC economy.
“The community is moving towards an even more integrated and prosperous future,” he said.
The electric trains cut travel time from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma to less than four hours, half the time required by road transport.
The summit communiqué also addressed trade and integration matters. EAC member states agreed to resolve all outstanding non-tariff trade barriers by June 30th this year.
The Council of Ministers was directed to finalise a joint action plan to strengthen trade relations among partner states, institutions and the private sector, and report to the 26th summit.
The summit further urged South Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to fast-track domestication of the EAC treaty to enhance implementation of community programmes.
A roadmap for the integration of these countries is to be completed by June 30, 2026. Additionally, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, the DRC and Somalia were directed to conclude national consultations on the EAC political confederation constitution by June 30, 2026.
At the summit, Dr Ruto handed over the EAC leadership to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
Tanzanian, Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi was appointed as the new EAC Secretary-General for a five-year, non-renewable term starting April 25th this year, replacing outgoing Ms Veronica Nduva.
