The Uganda Railways Cooperation (URC) has Tuesday commenced an operation to demolish all houses and other structures built within the railway corridor in Kampala.
The operation which was carried out with back up security from Police and the army, targeted houses in the areas of Namiryango, Namanve, Kinawataka, Kireka and other areas.
The corporation says the operation targeted first the structures which were constructed after 31 May 2022.
“Our commitment is to preserve the railway Corridor for railway operations and any encroachment or vandalism will not be tolerated going forward.” URC said.
The corporation has for years been battling encroachment on its land mostly in Kampala and Jinja.
Structures that face demolition are usually those within 30 meters of the railway line.
Government is currently in the process of revitalizing the national railway having reclaimed it from Rift Valley Railways (RVR) in 2018.
According to Minister of Works and Transport Gen Katumba Wamala, by the time of the repossession most of its assets had vanished will huge chunks of the railway line had been vandalized.
The Ministry, he said, had now resorted to the use concrete sleepers over the steel ones in restoration of the railway to curb vandalism.
