MV Kaawa to set sail

By Vision reporter

After seven years of lying idle, the wagon ferry Marine Vessel (MV) Kaawa is ready for work.The Southern Engineering Company, the company contracted to refurbish this vessel will next week hand it over to Uganda Railway Corporation which will also hand it over to Rift Valley Railways for operation.

The vessel was last week taken to Jinja for engine testing after getting insurance, an engineer and a captain from Tanzania.

Bernard Khabakha, a maritime expert with the works and transport ministry, said the vessel will start operation soon after the handover ceremonies.

MV Kaawa was grounded following the 2005 accident with the submerged MV Kabalega. Since then, no other Uganda-owned wagon ferry has been in operation after the remaining one, MV Pamba was grounded for none conformity to seaworthiness and lack of insurance.

The refurbishment of this vessel was funded by the World Bank at a cost of $3.2m. It included repairs at the dry dock, which enables engineers to see underneath the vessel.