Works on the USD 8.8 million (Shs32.33billion) Gulu Logistics Hub at Railway Village, Layibi Division are underway following the handover of the construction site to the project contractor – Ambitious Construction Company.
The project jointly funded by European Union and United Kingdom’s DFID will sit on 12 hectares provided by Uganda Railways Corporation (URC).
“Gulu Logistics Hub will help unlock the production potential of Northern Uganda. There is a lot of untapped potential that will be unlocked by this multi modal hub & other Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) projects,” Eng Charles Kateeba , the Managing Director of URC said.
The Gulu Logistics Hub which is expected to be complete in 18 months, will have a spacious container yard, container freight station (CFS), container cleaning and repair station, a vehicle holding section, an administration complex and an access road connecting the hub to the main roads to South Sudan and Kampala.
The Assistant Commissioner Road and Air Transport at Ministry of Works and Transport, Nelson Rwenaga said: “Gulu Logistics Hub forms a bigger part of the development projects for northern Uganda. European Union and United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) have through TradeMark East Africa funded the Hub. Government of Uganda is funding the access roads.”
During the handover of the construction site to the contractors, on behalf of the funders, Moses Sabiiti, the Country Director for TradeMark East Africa, Uganda and South Sudan programs noted that the biggest beneficiaries of this project will be the millions of Ugandans living in northern Uganda, South Sudan and parts of Congo.
“Gulu Logistics Hub will reduce the cost of transportation of cargo for traders in northern Uganda and neighbouring countries. At the end, the final consumers will enjoy reduced prices and variety of goods,” Moses Sabiiti said, adding that “Currently, many trucks that transport goods to northern Uganda, South Sudan and parts of DR Congo return to their ports of origin empty. With the Gulu Logistics Hub in place, these trucks will be able to pick goods here and transport them to the port.”
Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, the Gulu LC5 chairperson welcomed the development noting that such projects are much welcome in Gulu and the entire northern region.
“On behalf of the people of Gulu, I assure you our friends and partners that we will do everything possible to support the implementation of all development projects. Gulu is trying to be very strategic. We want more projects and more production,” Ojara said
He challenged the contractors for the Gulu Logistics Hub and other projects underway to seriously consider giving opportunities to the locals. Our people are very welcoming, hardworking & ready to serve. Health and Environment standards should be respected too.”
By Drake Nyamugabwa
