Newly elected Tororo Municipality MP Shyam Jay Tanna has called on the government to accelerate the implementation of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), warning that Uganda has fallen at least six years behind in developing its railway infrastructure.
Tanna made the remarks during his maiden speech in Parliament while contributing to the debate on President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The first-term legislator described the SGR as a transformative project that could significantly improve Uganda’s economy by lowering transport costs, improving connectivity, and boosting regional trade.
According to Tanna, completing the railway would reduce transportation costs by up to 40 percent and cut travel time between Kampala and Nairobi to about four hours, making Uganda more competitive in the East African region.
The MP also proposed establishing railway maintenance workshops in six major towns across the country, arguing that the facilities would create employment opportunities, develop technical skills, and support Uganda’s industrialisation agenda.
However, he noted that delays in compensating people affected by the railway corridor continue to hinder progress on the project.
Tanna urged the government to expedite outstanding land compensation payments to enable smooth implementation of the SGR.
His remarks were delivered during a special parliamentary sitting in which Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa gave each newly elected Member of Parliament three minutes to introduce themselves and outline their priorities during the debate on the President’s address.
🇺🇬 “UGANDA IS SIX YEARS BEHIND.”
Shyam Jay Tanna (Tororo Municipality) used the SONA debate to call for faster progress on railway and supporting road infrastructure.
He said the project could reduce transport costs by 40%, cut travel time to Nairobi to about four hours, and… https://t.co/EMGZL9Yfaw pic.twitter.com/wB27qFR6vJ
— Parliament Watch (@pwatchug) July 14, 2026
Tanna’s maiden speech has since attracted attention for its strong emphasis on infrastructure development, with many viewing it as a renewed call for government to fast-track one of Uganda’s most ambitious transport projects.
