Residents of Namanve and surrounding areas can now use passenger train services to Kampala for a fee of sh3,000.

This follows the resumption of passenger railways services by Uganda Railways Corporation (URC).

Speaking to New Vision on Monday, Deo Kyomya, the URC commercial manager said the trains will be plying two different routes including Namanve to Kampala and Port Bell in Luzira to Kampala. Those travelling from Port Bell will pay sh2,000.

The transport fees, Komya explained is in line with the COVID-19 standard operating procedures, particularly social distancing to avoid crowding.

“The train that plies the Namanve-Kampala route has four coaches/wagons. Each wagon averagely carries 65 people,” Komya said.

Morning trips begin at 7:00 am while in the evening, both trains leave between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm back to Port Bell and Namanve respectively.

“We appeal to the passengers to observe the SOPs. We shall not allow people without masks,” Komya said, adding that the trains also have hand sanitisation points at the entrance, and seats designated with numbers.

President Yoweri Museveni on the advice of the COVID-19 national task force, partially reopened the economy a week ago, relaxing among others, trade, movements and transport. 

However public transport according to the health ministry remains one of the super-spreaders of the COVID-19 virus given the proximity of seats between passengers.