SHIPPING REVOLUTION! Minister Byamukama Unveils Ugandan Plans For Regional Shipping Line, Maritime University As Kampala Prepares For Africa Summit
By Evans Najuna
KAMPALA — Uganda is preparing for a major breakthrough in the maritime transport industry, with government unveiling ambitious plans to establish a regional shipping line, set up a maritime university and expand inland water transport infrastructure in a bid to cut transportation costs, create jobs and boost international trade.
Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama says the initiatives are part of Uganda’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in Africa’s maritime industry and tap into the growing opportunities presented by the global shipping business.
Byamukama made the revelations while addressing journalists on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala ahead of the 9th Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) Annual Conference and General Assembly scheduled for November 17th, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Uganda is expected to host high-level delegates from across Africa and beyond, including International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, heads of African maritime administrations and institutions, as well as other key players in the global maritime industry.
The conference will run under the theme, “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Africa’s Maritime Transformation through Effective Governance, Innovation and Sustainable Blue Economy.”
According to Byamukama, the gathering will provide an opportunity for African countries to strengthen regional cooperation, address challenges affecting the maritime industry and translate existing maritime policies into practical interventions.
Among the key proposals Uganda is pursuing is the establishment of a Regional Maritime University to equip young people with specialised skills and professional qualifications required to work aboard international vessels.
Byamukama noted that Africa accounts for only four per cent of the global seafaring workforce, a gap he described as a major opportunity for Uganda to export skilled labour into the international shipping industry while tackling unemployment among its youthful population.
Government is also pushing for the establishment of a Regional Shipping Line to facilitate the movement of goods to international markets at competitive costs, strengthen regional trade connectivity and reduce dependence on expensive foreign shipping companies.
On marine cargo insurance, the minister revealed that Uganda is already saving more than Shs270 billion by retaining marine cargo insurance business within the country, a development he said demonstrates the economic benefits of strengthening local participation in the maritime sector.
He further expressed concern over the high cost of transporting goods along regional trade corridors, revealing that road transportation between Mombasa and Kampala costs approximately $1.8 per container per kilometre, compared to the global average of $1.
To address this challenge, government is prioritising inland water transport as a strategic alternative capable of reducing cargo transportation costs, improving connectivity, stimulating economic activity in lakeside communities and easing pressure on the country’s road network.
One of the major interventions is the development of Bukasa Port in Wakiso District on Lake Victoria. The modern port is expected to facilitate cargo transportation, particularly goods moving through the regional ports of Kisumu in Kenya and Mwanza in Tanzania, strengthening Uganda’s integration into the regional maritime transport network.
Government is also undertaking the rehabilitation and upgrading of Port Bell, Jinja Port and Ntoroko Port to improve cargo and passenger handling capacity and enhance operational efficiency.
On maritime safety, Byamukama disclosed that government has established five search and rescue centres strategically located across the country’s major water bodies. Equipped with rescue boats and safety communication equipment, the centres will be coordinated through a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Entebbe to strengthen emergency response and protect lives on Uganda’s waters.
Government has additionally established a Maritime Survival Training Centre in Entebbe to equip local boat operators with essential maritime safety knowledge and practical survival skills.
Uganda is also expanding ferry services to improve connectivity for island and lakeside communities. Byamukama said the country currently operates 13 ferries, while two additional ferries have been commissioned to serve communities in Buyende, Kaberamaido and Sereere Districts. Two more ferries are under construction on Lake Bunyonyi.
Byamukama said Uganda’s hosting of the AAMA conference presents an opportunity for the country to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s maritime transformation, noting that its significant inland water resources offer enormous potential for economic growth, regional integration and international trade.
He reaffirmed government’s commitment to working with African maritime administrations, the International Maritime Organization and development partners to develop a safe, secure, efficient and sustainable maritime sector that delivers tangible economic and social benefits.
The Association of African Maritime Administrations was established under Article 5 of the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter, adopted by the African Union in Kampala in 2010, as the coordinating organ for implementing the charter.
Uganda now hopes the November 17–19 conference will produce meaningful deliberations, stronger partnerships and actionable resolutions to accelerate Africa’s maritime transformation.
For Uganda, the bigger ambition is to turn its inland waters into economic powerhouses, position its workforce for opportunities in the global shipping industry and make water transport a competitive alternative for moving goods across the region.
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