Uganda - 2.1 Port Assessment
Port Assessment
As a landlocked country, Uganda is highly dependent on access to the Indian Ocean ports of Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salam in Tanzania.
- Historically, much of the imports/exports of goods to the country came up by rail to the Lake Victoria ports in Kenya (Kisumu), and Tanzania (Mwanza) and then transported across the lake on ferries to Jinja Pier and Port Bell or, directly by rail, from Mombasa to Kampala.
- However, the decline of the two ports in Uganda and the unreliability of the existing rail network has resulted in considerable increase in road transportation.
The two ports on Lake Victoria in Uganda are Jinja Pier (non-functioning Port infrastructure) and Port Bell Jinja Pier (reasonably functioning infrastructure). Home (works.go.ug)
- Jinja is basically a Rail Ro/Ro facility which handles merchandise to and from Kisumu in Kenya (used for fishery and research purposes).
- Port Bell has a Ro/Ro railroad facility and receives some vessels operating between Kisumu in Kenya and Mwanza in Tanzania
- The new port of Bukasa which is under construction will dominate transportation across Lake Victoria.[1]
[1] Ministry of Works, 2020, Preparation of the National Integrated Transport Master Plan 2021-2040.
Uganda - 2.1.1 Inland Port of Jinja
Inland Port of Jinja
The Jinja port is approximately 80 km East Northeast of Kampala although it is not fully operational, the port has potential for road and railroad merchandise from Tanzania (Mwanza) and Kenya (Kisumu).
- However, the road and railroad connections in Jinja Port has not been properly utilized for the past 8 years.
- Currently, the Port is only used occasionally by 2 research vessels based there to monitor fish stocks in part of Lake Victoria.
- The port comprises of a singletrack railway connected to Mombasa and Nairobi through Kampala, a RoRo berth adapted for road and rail traffic, and a quay with approximately 10 metres in width.
Other Maritime Infrastructures
- In close proximity to Jinja Port (9 km East) is Jinja Masese Industrial Area and the Bidco Oil Uganda processing plant which owns and operates its own jetty.
- In the same Masese area relatively close is also the Veron shipyard where a 350 tonne RoRo ferry has just been built for UNRA by JGH Marine, a Danish company.
There are 2 major landing sites in Jinja for the fisheries sector:
- Masese landing site and FDC Waterman both selling unprocessed fresh fish to the local and regional market, as well as to several fillet processing plants.
- As part of the Feasibility Plan for the Bukasa Port and for Lake Victoria Transportation this port is projected to be developed into a Fisheries Terminal, Shipyard, and a Marine Training School.[1]
Table 2.1.1. Uganda: Port location and contact Jinja Pier
Port Location and Contact
|
|
---|---|
Country
|
Uganda |
Province or District
|
Jinja District |
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port
|
Jinja, 4 km |
Ports Complete Name
|
Jinja Pier |
Latitude
|
0°24’51 North |
Longitude
|
33°12’26’ East |
Managing Company or Port Authority
|
Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) |
Management Contact Person
|
Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) |
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International arrivals/departures |
Entebbe International Airport (131 km) |
Port Picture:
Port Performance:
The state of the facilities in Jinja Pier is very run down, and significant renovation would be required to put into an operational state.
- The road access is almost unusable for anything other than 4x4 passenger vehicles.
- The railway that joins this facility to the main line is four Kilometres long.
- The railway station in Jinja is currently active with a train travelling either to or from Kampala to Mombasa every day.
- Rail transport transit times vary from seven to twelve days (compared to four days on road transport).
- Jinja port is in a very dilapidated condition with most of the rail wagon link span deteriorated and fendering systems completely decayed.
- The general cargo berth (quay wall and bollards) is damaged, and the quay pavement is in poor condition.
Seasonal Constraints
|
||
---|---|---|
|
Occurs |
Time Frame |
Rainy Season |
No |
N/A |
Major Import Campaigns |
No |
N/A |
Other Comments |
Jinja Pier currently receives only small vessels mainly from the fishing industry. |
Handling Figures for 2022
|
|
---|---|
Vessel Calls |
N/A |
Container Traffic (TEUs) |
N/A |
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2022
|
|
---|---|
Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Break Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Berthing Specifications:
Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conventional Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Silo Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Berthing Tugs |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Water Barges |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
General Cargo Handling Berths:
Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
---|---|
Imports – Bagged Cargo |
NA |
Exports – Bagged cargo |
NA |
Imports and Exports - RoRo |
NA |
Other Imports |
NA |
Port Handling Equipment:
Equipment |
Available |
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
---|---|---|---|
Dockside Crane
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Gantries
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Mobile Cranes
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Reach stacker
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
RoRo Tugmaster (with trailer) |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Transtainer
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Forklifts
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Facilities:
Facilities
|
20 ft |
40 ft |
---|---|---|
Container Facilities Available
|
NA |
NA |
Container Freight Stations (CFS)
|
NA |
NA |
Refrigerated Container Stations
|
NA |
NA |
Other Capacity Details
|
NA |
NA |
Daily Take Off Capacity (Containers per Day)
|
NA |
NA |
Number of Reefer Stations (Connection Points)
|
NA |
NA |
Emergency Take-Off Capacity
|
NA |
NA |
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift (Container per shift)
|
NA |
NA |
Port Security:
Security
|
|
---|---|
ISPS Compliant
|
NA |
Current ISPS Level (Level 1 =Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)
|
NA |
Police Boats
|
NA |
Fire Engines
|
NA |
General Observations:
- The rail track connecting the Port to the URC Jinja main railway station is largely vandalized.
- Port rail tracks to the link-span and shunting yard are dilapidated. Link-span winches are not working.
- The rail jetty fenders need replacement and gangway requires refurbishment.
- The oil jetty for bunkering is not operational at present.
- Road pavement within the port and access roads to the port are badly dilapidated
[1] Ibid.
Uganda - 2.1.2 Inland Port of Port Bell
Inland Port of Port Bell
Port Bell is an active port situated in the Southeast Nakawa Division of Kampala on Lake Victoria; Capacities include:
- A railroad terminal handling rail and road traffic in addition to passenger traffic
- A floating dry dock of 500 MT capacity.
- A concrete quay approximately (115m x 30 m)
- Warehousing, and administrative buildings have recently been renovated, customs facilities, security and a substantial workshop are in operation.
- Two RoRo vessels operate to Mwanza with a total capacity of 80 wagons per week.
- The port receives merchandise and humanitarian supplies from DRC having transited through Tanzania and handles some limited, intermittent exports of consumer goods and construction materials through to northern Tanzania.[1]
Table 2.1.2. Uganda: Port location and contact Port Bell
Port Location and Contact
|
|
---|---|
Country
|
Uganda |
Province or District
|
Kampala City Metropolitan District |
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port
|
Kampala |
Ports Complete Name
|
Port Bell |
Latitude
|
0.288900 |
Longitude
|
32.653620 |
Managing Company or Port Authority
|
Uganda Railways Corporation |
Management Contact Person
|
Mr. Tumusiime David |
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International arrivals/departures |
Entebbe Airport |
Port Picture:
Port Performance:
Seasonal Constraints
|
||
---|---|---|
|
Occurs |
Time Frame |
Rainy Season |
No |
N/A |
Major Import Campaigns |
No |
N/A |
Other Comments |
|
Handling Figures for 2022
|
|
Vessel Calls |
N/A |
Container Traffic (TEUs) |
N/A |
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2022
|
|
---|---|
Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Break Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Berthing Specifications:
Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conventional Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Silo Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Berthing Tugs |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Water Barges |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
General Cargo Handling Berths:
Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
---|---|
Imports – Bagged Cargo |
NA |
Exports – Bagged cargo |
NA |
Imports and Exports - RoRo |
NA |
Other Imports |
NA |
Port Handling Equipment:
Equipment |
Available |
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
---|---|---|---|
Dockside Crane
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Gantries
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Mobile Cranes
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Reach stacker
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
RoRo Tugmaster (with trailer) |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Transtainer
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Forklifts
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Facilities:
Facilities
|
20 ft |
40 ft |
---|---|---|
Container Facilities Available
|
NA |
NA |
Container Freight Stations (CFS)
|
NA |
NA |
Refrigerated Container Stations
|
NA |
NA |
Other Capacity Details
|
NA |
NA |
Daily Take Off Capacity (Containers per Day)
|
NA |
NA |
Number of Reefer Stations (Connection Points)
|
NA |
NA |
Emergency Take-Off Capacity
|
NA |
NA |
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift (Container per shift)
|
NA |
NA |
Port Security:
Security
|
|
---|---|
ISPS Compliant
|
NA |
Current ISPS Level (Level 1 =Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)
|
NA |
Police Boats
|
NA |
Fire Engines
|
NA |
[1] Ibid.
Uganda - 2.1.3 Inland Port of Bukasa
Inland Port of Bukasa
Bukasa Port was initiated almost a decade ago but went into limbo till around 2014 when German consultants (Gauff Engineering) negotiated to complete a feasibility study, finance, design and manage the project for its realization.
- Currently, the 8 km access road to the site is under construction and the projected cargo will feed the port via rail connections to and from the offshore ports at Kisumu and Mwanza to the Indian Ocean ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
- Hinterland freight opportunities also exist through to the Eastern Democratic Republic of The Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
- The project master plan envisaged that the port would be able to handle 2.4 MM T of freight rising to above 11.5 MM T by the end of phase 3 over a 20- year period.
- The current timeline has moved forward to 2022/23 for completion of phase 2 at the earliest.
- For this project to achieve its objectives it is dependent on internal infrastructure developments in the hinterland of the port within Uganda but also in Kenya and Tanzania.
- The ports in Mwanza will need considerable upgrading to handle the freight forecasts, not only within the ports themselves but the rail access feeding them as well.
- A new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) projects are under way in both Kenya and Tanzania, both may connect to Lake Victoria within 3 – 4 years.
- Hinterland connectivity of the port to the road and upgrade of existing metre gauge rail links into the Ugandan transportation system are also required to evacuate the port merchandise from the port for onward internal distribution. 
Table 2.1.3. Uganda: Port location and contact Port Bukasa
Port Location and Contact
|
|
---|---|
Country
|
Uganda |
Province or District
|
Kampala |
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Port
|
Kampala City |
Ports Complete Name
|
NA |
Latitude
|
NA |
Longitude
|
NA |
Managing Company or Port Authority
|
NA |
Management Contact Person
|
NA |
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International arrivals/departures |
NA |
Port Picture:
N/A
Port Performance:
Seasonal Constraints
|
||
---|---|---|
|
Occurs |
Time Frame |
Rainy Season |
No |
N/A |
Major Import Campaigns |
No |
N/A |
Other Comments |
|
Handling Figures for 2022
|
|
---|---|
Vessel Calls |
N/A |
Container Traffic (TEUs) |
N/A |
Handling Figures Bulk and Break Bulk for 2022
|
|
---|---|
Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Break Bulk (MT) |
N/A |
Berthing Specifications:
Type of Berth |
Quantity |
Length (m) |
Maximum Draft (m) |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Conventional Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Silo Berth |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Berthing Tugs |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Water Barges |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
General Cargo Handling Berths:
Cargo Type |
Berth Identification |
---|---|
Imports – Bagged Cargo |
NA |
Exports – Bagged cargo |
NA |
Imports and Exports - RoRo |
NA |
Other Imports |
NA |
Port Handling Equipment:
Equipment |
Available |
Total Quantity and Capacity Available |
Comments on Current Condition and Actual Usage |
---|---|---|---|
Dockside Crane
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Gantries
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Mobile Cranes
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Reach stacker
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
RoRo Tugmaster (with trailer) |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Grain Elevator with Bagging Machines |
NA |
NA |
NA |
Transtainer
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Forklifts
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
Container Facilities:
Facilities
|
20 ft |
40 ft |
---|---|---|
Container Facilities Available
|
NA |
NA |
Container Freight Stations (CFS)
|
NA |
NA |
Refrigerated Container Stations
|
NA |
NA |
Other Capacity Details
|
NA |
NA |
Daily Take Off Capacity (Containers per Day)
|
NA |
NA |
Number of Reefer Stations (Connection Points)
|
NA |
NA |
Emergency Take-Off Capacity
|
NA |
NA |
Off take Capacity of Gang Shift (Container per shift)
|
NA |
NA |
Port Security:
Security
|
|
---|---|
ISPS Compliant
|
NA |
Current ISPS Level (Level 1 =Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)
|
NA |
Police Boats
|
NA |
Fire Engines
|
NA |