President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that Uganda will be allocated land in Naivasha for them to construct a dry port.
Speaking during Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s official visit to Mombasa port, Kenyatta noted that the country will give them land as a way of fostering Kenya-Uganda relations.
His Ugandan counterpart further called for the fast-tracking of the East Africa Community (EAC) political federation.
President Museveni arrived on Wednesday morning to Mombasa, for a three-day state visit following an invitation from his Kenyan counterpart.
During their bilateral talks on Wednesday, President Kenyatta stated that Kenya and Uganda have agreed to form a border commission that aims to look into how the contentious Migingo island will be managed for the benefit of both countries.
The two Heads of State also closed ranks on the need to extend the SGR to Kampala via Malaba.
The two countries have been differing over financing of the cross border SGR, with China Exim Bank insisting that Kampala has to get Kenya’s commitment to build the rail from Kisumu to Malaba, before Uganda can secure funding for the line running from Kampala to the common boundary.
However, after on Wednesday the two heads seemed to have agreed on a way forward towards the same as they both spoke well of the partnership.
President Kenyatta noted: “The SGR train had evidently improved transport of cargo from Mombasa to Nairobi and I am now keen on the joint development of the SGR line to Kampala in Uganda.’
His Ugandan counterpart reiterated Uhuru’s sentiments, noting, “We have had great progress on these discussions. It will be a game-changer, especially for movement of cargo from Mombasa to Kampala.”
Museveni will be the first visiting President to ride on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) when he uses the railway service from Mombasa to Nairobi on Thursday.
Announcing on his official page, President Museveni mentioned: “I also gladly look forward to using the train on the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Nairobi tomorrow.
“It should take me only four hours on a journey of over 480kms. Apparently, I will be the first visiting head of state to use this facility. I am honored.” he concluded.