Joseph Isangura
Tanzania has successfully secured funding for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) section connecting Uvinza in Kigoma to Musongati in Burundi, advancing its ambitious regional infrastructure project.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $696.4 million in financing, comprising grants for Burundi and loans and guarantees for Tanzania, as part of a broader effort to boost regional connectivity and economic integration.
This 651-kilometer section is a critical component of the East African railway network, designed to link Tanzania’s port of Dar es Salaam to its neighboring countries, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda. The entire SGR project spans over 2,500 kilometers, aiming to transform East Africa’s Central Transport Corridor into an economic hub by enhancing trade, industrialization, and accessibility.
The railway will facilitate cost-effective transport for bulk goods, reduce reliance on road transport, and promote mining and agriculture along its route. Burundi, with one of the world’s largest nickel reserves, is set to benefit significantly from this connectivity, as it plans to ramp up exports through Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port, which currently handles 80% of its trade.
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Construction on other SGR sections, including the Dar es Salaam to Dodoma stretch, is already operational, while additional segments are under construction. The AfDB’s role as the lead financier underscores the project’s alignment with the African Union’s infrastructure priorities and its potential to drive regional economic growth.
The funding agreement marks a milestone in Tanzania and Burundi’s efforts to enhance cross-border infrastructure, a key step towards fostering economic resilience and integration in East Africa.
