Finance ministers from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have agreed to prioritise financing for the long-awaited Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), in a renewed push to accelerate regional infrastructure integration.
The ministers met in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, where they reviewed progress and coordination on the multi-country rail project.
The meeting brought together Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Rwanda’s Finance Minister Yusuf Murangwa, and Uganda’s Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) Henry Musasizi.
Also in attendance were Uganda’s Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka and Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi, alongside senior officials from the three partner states.
Speaking after the meeting, Mbadi said Kenya remains committed to extending the railway to the Malaba border with Uganda, describing the project as critical to regional trade. “There is a need for closer cooperation among partner states to ensure the viability of the SGR project,” he said.
Murangwa reaffirmed Rwanda’s readiness to extend the railway from Uganda’s border into Kigali, noting that the project presents a major opportunity to boost trade and investment across the region.
“The SGR is an opportunity to connect the region and Africa, and to reap the benefits of interconnectivity,” Murangwa said, while commending Kenya and Uganda for taking the lead.
On Uganda’s part, Musasizi said the government has already commenced implementation of the Malaba–Kampala section and remains fully committed to the regional vision.
“The viability of this SGR depends on all of us committing to do the project,” Musasizi said, adding that Uganda plans to extend the railway to the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ggoobi revealed that Uganda has already contracted the construction of the 270-kilometre line from Malaba to Kampala and appointed Citibank as lead arranger for financing.
“We have made progress in acquiring the right of way and are engaging development partners, including the World Bank, to support the project,” Ggoobi said.
Earlier, the Ugandan delegation held discussions with a World Bank team led by Qimiao Fan on potential financing options for the railway.
Fan indicated that the World Bank is open to supporting the project and would explore financing opportunities.
Officials say the SGR is a flagship infrastructure project expected to significantly reduce the cost of transporting goods, improve regional connectivity, and enhance the competitiveness of East African economies.
The Ugandan delegation also held talks with Citibank officials led by Richard Hodder to review progress in mobilising funding.
Once completed, the SGR is expected to link the East African region more efficiently, unlocking trade corridors from the Indian Ocean through Kenya into Uganda, Rwanda, and beyond.
The renewed commitment by the three countries signals growing momentum to overcome financing challenges that have slowed the project in recent years, as governments seek to position infrastructure as a key driver of economic transformation.