African Development Bank Pledges UA 480 Million Toward Uganda’s Malaba-Kampala Standard Gauge Railway

The African Development Bank has tentatively allocated UA 480 million, approximately USD 650 million, to finance a 326 km standard gauge railway from Malaba to Kampala. Dr. Abdul Kamara, Vice President and head of Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery at the bank, made the pledge during a meeting with a Ugandan delegation on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings 2026 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Kamara said the Standard Gauge Railway project aligns with the bank's priority of building resilient infrastructure on the African continent. Final project financing arrangements will be concluded during the next appraisal mission in June 2026, pending approval of African Development Fund 17.

Kamara also pledged one million dollars from the bank to Uganda as emergency response funding to fight Ebola.

The meeting was attended by Bhebhe Themba, Country Manager AfDB Uganda, Yvette Glele-Ahanhanzo, Director of Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, and Maria Antonia Joy Kategekwa, Director of the Regional Coordination Office. Mustapha Achidri, a finance committee member leading the Ugandan delegation, welcomed the bank's commitment to the railway project.

7 billion euros to finance construction of the Standard Gauge Railway.

23 million. He congratulated Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on his election as President of the African Development Bank and said the Government of Uganda pledges its support during his tenure.

The article was published on 1 June 2026 by The Independent (Kampala) and distributed by AllAfrica.