Uganda - Transportation

A landlocked country, Uganda depends on links with Tanzania and Kenya for access to the sea. The main rail line runs from Tororo in the east through Jinja and Kampala to the Kilembe copper mines near Kasese. The northwest line runs from Tororo to Pakwach. Eastward from Tororo, the line crosses into Kenya and runs to the port of Mombasa. There is a total of 1,241 km (771 mi) of track in Uganda.

In 2002, there were 27,000 km (16,778 mi) of roads, 1,800 km (1,119 mi) of which were surfaced. In 2000, there were 72,700 passenger cars and 79,700 commercial vehicles registered in Uganda. However, many were not in service due to damage, shortages of fuel and spare parts, and closing of repair and maintenance facilities.

Steamships formerly carried cargo and passengers along the country's major lakes and navigable rivers, but there is no regular service on the Nile. Three Ugandan train ferries ply Lake Victoria, connecting at Kisumu, Kenya, and Mwanza, Tanzania. Important ports and harbors include Entebbe, Jinja, and Port Bell. As of 2002, Uganda had a merchant fleet of three cargo ships totaling 5,091 GRT.

In 2001, airports numbered 27, only 4 of which had paved runways. Uganda's international airport is at Entebbe. In 2001, 40,600 passengers were carried on scheduled domestic and international flights.