Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda to Build Super-Highway parallel to the planned railway

[R.B]

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are considering building a superhighway from Mombasa to Kigali, parallel to the planned railway.

According to regional trade lobby organization Trademark East Africa, which will be facilitating the project, it is expected to have a six-lane road, with construction beginning in 2016.
Inspired by the N1 highway that runs from Cape Town in South Africa to Harare in Zimbabwe, the proposed road is intended to ease the movement of cargo, thereby reducing the cost of doing business and increasing intra-regional trade.
Expenditure on transport in the EAC countries accounts for 45% of the total cost of goods. This is 30% higher than in Southern Africa, making commodities produced in the region uncompetitive.
John Byabagambi, Uganda's Junior Minister for Works who is chairing the Standard Gauge Railway Committee, said that Trademark was doing feasibility studies for a dual carriage highway that forms part of plans to expand the Northern Corridor, as the current single carriage system is too narrow and fraught with inefficiencies.
Allen Asiimwe of Trademark East Africa said the superhighway would have no weighbridges or roadblocks.
This means that once the goods are loaded onto a truck at the Port of Mombasa, there will be no stops until the final destination. Weighbridges and roadblocks are among major hindrances to trade in the region.
As the cost of doing business in the region drops, intra-EAC trade, which currently stands at over $3.8 million, or just 13% of the total trade volumes in the region, is expected to increase.
Asiimwe added that the road, the ability of the revenue authorities of Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya to acquire the latest software known as Automated Systems for Customs Data (Asycuda), plus a $50 million investment in the port of Mombasa, will ensure that cargo moves fast and that it is constantly monitored.
"Investment in a regional asset like the Mombasa port will reduce the time for clearing goods from 18 to five days," she said.
The software enables Customs officials from the three countries to use the electronic tracking system to monitor the trucks.
The software will also boost the EAC Customs Union since revenue authorities will be able to assess and collect taxes at the first point of entry. This means that once a trader has paid his taxes for goods bound for Uganda, there will be no need to pay a refundable bond to Kenya. This has been the practice, due to the fear that goods could be dumped in Kenya.
As the cost of doing business in the region drops, intra-EAC trade, which currently stands at over $3.8 million, or just 13% of the total trade volumes in the region, is expected to increase.
Experts warn that intra-EAC trade is well below the standards of any functional common market.
"Intra-regional trade should account for at least 25% of the total trade volumes in any functional common market," said Rashid Kibowa, Commissioner for Economic Affairs in Uganda's Ministry of East African Community Affairs.
In the European Union, intra-regional trade accounts for 55% of total trade while it stands at 40% in the US.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

I don't think it can be "parallel" to the planned railway. It is an absurd proposition.

 

[simplemind]

I don't think it can be "parallel" to the planned railway. It is an absurd proposition.

May not be absurd. Mombasa to Kigali six-lane superhighway is an idea whose time has come - Comment - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

 

[Ulukolokwitanga]

Jamaa wamejipanga aisee, kama wataweka Super Highway kama N1 basi jamaa watakuwa vizuri sana. Kwenye maamuzi mazuri kama haya ya kuboresha miundombinu na kufuata teknolojia ya kisasa lazima kumpongeza jirani. We fikiria kutoka Dar hadi Tunduma kuna mizani zaidi ya 10 na askari wa usalama barabarani zaidi ya 800. Cha kushangaza hii sio kero kwa serikali ya Tanzania, lakini ni kero kubwa kwa majirani ambao gharama za usafirishaji zinaongezwa na muda mrefu wa kusafirisha mizigo

Sisi watanzania tunasema hatuna haraka kuungana na wenzetu kuboresha miundombinu, lakini cha kushangaza tuna haraka ya ajabu katika kugawa vitalu vya gesi bila hata kuwepo sera ya gesi

 

[mwekundu]

Ngoja tujipange SADC

 

[R.B]

jamaa wamejipanga aisee, kama wataweka super highway kama n1 basi jamaa watakuwa vizuri sana. Kwenye maamuzi mazuri kama haya ya kuboresha miundombinu na kufuata teknolojia ya kisasa lazima kumpongeza jirani. We fikiria kutoka dar hadi tunduma kuna mizani zaidi ya 10 na askari wa usalama barabarani zaidi ya 800. Cha kushangaza hii sio kero kwa serikali ya tanzania, lakini ni kero kubwa kwa majirani ambao gharama za usafirishaji zinaongezwa na muda mrefu wa kusafirisha mizigo

sisi watanzania tunasema hatuna haraka kuungana na wenzetu kuboresha miundombinu, lakini cha kushangaza tuna haraka ya ajabu katika kugawa vitalu vya gesi bila hata kuwepo sera ya gesi

mabingwa wa mipango utekelezajim zero; walisema reli kwanini wasimalize reli kwanza????????

 

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

I don't think it can be "parallel" to the planned railway. It is an absurd proposition.

Ahaha!
Kak hata wewe umeshindwa kuambulia kitu?

Naamini walimanisha kuwa ujenzi wa reli utaenda sambamba na ujenzi wa Hiyo Super Higway kwa maana miradi yote miwili kwa Mpigo itafanyika na sio kuwa zitafuatana kwa maana ya njia moja.

 

[Ulukolokwitanga]

mabingwa wa mipango utekelezajim zero; walisema reli kwanini wasimalize reli kwanza????????

Ndio maana baada ya kuona wenzetu wanatuacha akina Membe wanakuja na sizitaki mbichi hizi na kisingizio kuwa tujitoe EAC twende SADC, na huko SADC wenzetu tayari wana N1 Super highway. Kimsingi serikali yetu lazima ianze kuwekeza, hakuna njia ya mkato bila kuwekeza kwenye miundombinu. Tutaishia kununa wakati wenzetu wanasonga mbele kisa tu serikali haitaki kutenge fedha za kutosha kuboresha miundombinu

 

[Swat]

You guys have already been told by Tanzanians to go on with your white Elephant projects,and we dont mind at all!. Why all those 'remainders' each and everyday?

 

[bona]

kama ni mipango ya mendeleo waendelee nayo ila isiwe propaganda ya kututamanusha we will not b moved hatutaki EAC ya kunyonyana!!! vp ile single tourist visa na political federation yenu bado tu???

 

[ukwelingumu]

Nakufahamisha tayari tumeanza kulipia ushuru wakujenga reli!Subira uvuta heri tuko tayari kungoja

 

[ukwelingumu]

This is what we are talking about.You know what? We have to succeed even if it is just to prove a point to our neighbor.There are no two ways about it

 

[2013]

binafsi sitaki east africa community. najua wabunge wa tized wakinisikia hawatafurahi kwakuhofia kukata posho yao ya ubunge wa isti africa. tuache kufikiria inside the boksi

. tutafute njia nyingine za kupiga hatua.