How close is East Africa to an integrated rail system?

“Great plan on paper. Poor implementation. I wish things could get better… I remember when I was growing up my Grandfather used to work for the railways corporation and it was prestigious to work for the railways. He would work across Kenya, go to Tanzania and that’s not possible now.” In 2004, an East African Community Summit announced a plan to invest in and integrate railway lines and services across the region. It followed years of under investment which had led to the near collapse of most railway services by the 1990s – and was meant to see existing infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda upgraded and then extended into neighbouring countries. Some of the work has happened – mostly paid for using Chinese loans. But as that source of funding has dried up and concern has increased about the countries’ abilities to pay back the money, other projects have fallen by the wayside. So should we be optimistic or pessimistic when it comes to hopes for railway services across East Africa?

For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Masanja Kadogosa, Director General of Tanzania Railway Corporation and BBC Business’s Peter Mwangangi.

Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)