News story (by Brian Adero) - Firm doubles load capacity to Uganda

Ref: http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143983575&cid=4

Published on March 20, 2008, 12:00 am

By Brian Adero

The Kenya-Uganda Railways concessionaire, Rift Valley Railways (RVR), has more than doubled its capacity to ferry transit cargo to Uganda.

"It’s true, RVR has been working round the clock to ensure all transit cargo to Uganda is speedily hauled across the country and we are happy that the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) is responding positively to our increased efficiency," RVR Managing Director, Mr Roy Puffett, said yesterday.

"As a transport solutions provider, we appreciate the co-operation by URA which will enhance our capacity for the benefit of our customers."

Puffet said the performance was a reflection of RVR’s strategy that has already started paying dividends.

However, RVR’s increased efficiencies seem to have caught Uganda Customs officials’ off-guard.

Media reports in Kampala indicate that an all-time high cargo backlog has hit the URA officials at the Malaba border in Kenya.

It is understood that the officials at the Malaba One Stop Clearing Station are struggling to keep pace with RVR’s daily frequencies, which have been described, as ‘historic’.

In a statement, Puffett said in the past three weeks, more than 60 trains had passed through the Malaba border town to Uganda, representing more than 200 per cent growth.

He said RVR was operating a double schedule train service from Mombasa to Uganda daily.