Soroti, Kampala, Wakiso leading in railway vandalism

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The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has decried the theft of railway line materials around the country.

"Soroti has now become a hub of criminals vandalising our railway lines," URC managing director Benon Kajuna says.

According to Kajuna, since the Tororo-Soroti railway line is under rehabilitation, people are taking advantage to steal the materials.

He says people are also vandalising its Tororo-Soroti line and that so far, unidentified individuals have made off with 95 railway slippers.

Benon Kajuna Managing Director Uganda Railways Corporation addressing the press on the performance of URC, safety along the Railway reserve, vandalism and theft of railway material. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Kajuna's revelation on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, was in light of the fact that several individuals had in March this year already been arrested following complaints of theft of materials from the contractor of the railway line.

Kampala and Wakiso

According to Kajuna, residents of the districts of Kampala and Wakiso are leading in the theft of railway stones (aggregate). Aggregate stones are crushed rock, gravel, or sand used in construction. They are a material used in concrete, asphalt, and various other applications.

"In Kampala and Wakiso, thieves are also collecting the stones for their own construction needs. These stones are supposed to stabilise the formation of the railway line. This act destabilises the formation of the railway line," he said.

Jinja and Buikwe stealing nuts

"In Mukono, Kawolo and Jinja, plates, bolts and nuts are being removed from the functional railway line and being sold on the black market," he said.

Kajuna said such vandalism plunges the corporation into huge financial challenges and affects the stability of the line and train wagons.

He urged Ugandans against stealing the railway materials, saying they would face the long arm of the law once arrested.

Sh500m needed

He added that URC requires shillings 500 million every month for urgent repairs on the railway line to improve train speeds, reduce derailments, and ensure safer operations.

According to Kajuna, due to the poor state of the railway line, the trains only transport a total of 250,000 tonnes of cargo per annum against the target of 540,000 tonnes.

“The Cargo we move is mostly the heavy one such as steel coils and billets, which reduces pressure on our roads but also heavy for the aged infrastructure,e which we are now working,” Kajuna said.

He added that when all works are complete and rolling stock acquired, the railway line will be able to move over 600,000 tonnes of cargo per year.

In terms of passenger traffic, 2,000 passengers move by rail transport every day in four trips between Kampala and Mukono.