Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to construct joint railway line

The Presidents of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda yesterday agreed to construct a railway line that will run through the three East African countries.The decision was reached at during a joint meeting between Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni at State House in Entebbe, Uganda.“The Presidents agreed to revamp the existing railway network and also construct new standard gauge railway line and extend it to Rwanda, including joint mobilisation of resources,” Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Kutesa, told a joint news conference addressed by the three Heads of State.The East African member states also agreed to build a joint oil pipeline and refinery linking each other.“The three Heads of States have agreed to develop two oil pipelines. One pipeline for finished goods from Eldoret to Kampala and be extended to Rwanda,” Kutesa added.They further agreed to develop a crude oil pipeline from Uganda to Kenya, linking South Sudan, up to the port of Lamu.The minister said, “The meeting also agreed that partner states invest in the oil refinery in Uganda”.Dividing up rolesMeanwhile, the Presidents resolved to introduce an East African Identity Card as well as fast tracking of the political integration.Rwanda was given the responsibility of spearheading the establishment of East Africa Identity cards, single tourism visa and single customs territory. Once the single visa is implemented, all international tourists will be allowed to tour all East Africa Community member countries without the need for a national visa, which experts say would help to develop the tourism sector.On the other hand, Uganda was given the responsibility of spearheading the oil refinery, political federation and railway while Kenya was given the responsibility of spearheading the oil pipeline and electricity.The minister explained that the oil pipeline from Mombasa to Eldoret to Kampala and to Rwanda will be configured to have a reverse mechanism with another pipeline for the evacuation of crude oil.The meeting also directed that technocrats will be meeting every after two months to review implementation of decisions taken. The first meeting will be held in Kenya while Rwanda will host another meeting in October this year.

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Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to construct joint railway line