KAMPALA, Uganda — Commuters on the busy Kampala–Mukono route can breathe a sigh of relief. The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has announced that train services will resume on Monday, April 14th, 2025, after urgent repair works were completed on the Namanve embankment.
The passenger train line, which had been temporarily suspended on April 6, underwent critical maintenance to ensure safety and restore reliable service between the capital and the fast-growing eastern corridor of Mukono.
In an official statement issued Sunday, URC confirmed that all repair works have been successfully concluded and the route is now deemed safe for operations.
“Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is pleased to inform the general public and all our esteemed passengers that the works on the embankment at Namanve have been concluded and the railway line between Mukono and Kampala is now safe for train operations,” read the statement.
The embankment at Namanve, a crucial section of the line, had shown signs of stress, prompting the temporary shutdown for urgent structural reinforcements. The corporation emphasized that a comprehensive technical assessment was conducted before greenlighting the resumption.
“Following successful restoration works and comprehensive safety assessments by our technical teams, commuter and passenger train services will resume on 14th April 2025 as previously communicated,” the statement continued.
The Kampala–Mukono commuter train, relaunched in June 2024, quickly gained popularity for its affordability, speed, and reliability, especially during rush hour. For many working-class Ugandans, it has become a preferred alternative to sitting in long traffic jams on Jinja Road.
On a typical weekday, trains run at near full capacity—particularly between Mukono, Namanve, and Kampala—offering a much-needed solution to the capital’s worsening traffic congestion.
Passengers have lauded the train for cutting down commute times and easing daily transportation expenses.
With fuel prices rising and road traffic ever-increasing, the resumption of the train service comes as a timely relief for thousands of daily riders.
The URC urged passengers to return to the service with confidence, assuring them of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure safe and efficient travel.
As the railway line roars back to life, all eyes are on how Uganda Railways builds on this momentum to modernize and expand the country’s rail infrastructure—a move many say is long overdue.
