After almost a year of planning for the interstate standard gauge railway, Rwanda and Uganda have finally hired consultants to design the Kigali-Kampala line. This is one of the major infrastructure projects under the tripartite initiative that aim to fast-track integration projects by Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

The development brings hope to regional businesses and will further enhance the attractiveness of the region as the preferred destination for investors from across the globe. The effort also affirms that working as a bloc to solve the challenges we face, especially infrastructure bottlenecks that frustrate investors, is the way to go in handling this era’s hurdles.

As a trading bloc that seeks to create a business environment that appeals to top brands and investors, reducing the cost of doing business is a big step forward and should be supported by all East Africans.

The electronic railway line that will link the hinterlands of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda means that farmers and manufacturers will access better markets easily, which will boost household incomes and reduce poverty among the masses.

The railway will connect the two landlocked countries to Mombasa. It is also expected to be extended to Juba, South Sudan.

With such infrastructure in place, industrialists will be attracted to set up shop in rural areas where they will access raw materials easily. This will help create jobs for the rural folks and ease the problem of rural-urban migration.

However, the strong commitment of the leaders of the three countries needs to be supported by citizens’ participation through paying taxes on time so that the projects can be implemented in time.