Tororo – The Italian construction firm Condotte 1880, led by Professor Valter Mainetti, is nearing completion of a major contract with Uganda to deliver a 62-kilometre turnkey railway line.
The new infrastructure will connect Tororo, a key railway hub near the Kenyan border, to Majanji, a town on Lake Victoria where a new freight port is planned.
The Ugandan government considers the project strategic for the country’s economic growth, improving trade links with neighbouring nations — particularly with Kenya and the port of Mombasa, Uganda’s main maritime outlet.
“I am proud to contribute to a vital infrastructure for Uganda,” said Valter Mainetti, CEO of Condotte 1880. “Our experience, including recent work on a 130 km railway in Algeria, will serve this project well. Beyond its technical scope, it represents a strong example of international cooperation fostering development and prosperity.”
The “Made in Italy” consortium includes Salcef Group (rail and electrical systems), Progress Rail/Caterpillar Italia (signalling and safety), and Almaviva (telecommunications and digital infrastructure). Condotte 1880 will cover 65 percent of the $650 million project.
Six stations are planned, and part of the construction will use locally prefabricated components. The workforce — including managerial staff — will be trained at a new Railway Training Academy to be established at Busitema University in Tororo.
Financing, coordinated by Citibank, will have a sovereign guarantee from Uganda, with the government contributing 15 percent directly. Italian institutions Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, SACE, and Simest are also expected to support the project.