The Uganda Railway Museum is a national railway museum located along the Jinja-Iganga Highway at the Railway Station in Jinja City. Housed in one of Jinja’s oldest and historical buildings constructed in 1928, the museum contains artefacts from the days before the railway in Uganda, the life during the early days of the railway development, the era of colonial expansion, and the railways after independence.
Part of the museum is designed with young people in mind to support their learning and appreciation of Uganda’s history. The museum offers a train experience in a restored but stationed locomotive and coach – that also has a cinema section where a short film on the history of the railway in Uganda is projected. A varied programme is offered by the museum; it includes heritage theme nights such as the movie night every Friday, guided tours, a cafeteria whose menu is themed on the railway concept, and the Akatale –a monthly market day that provides space to the local crafts community.
The Museum officially opened in March 2022 and it is operated by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) in partnership with Uganda Railways Corporation (URC). It is open to the general public from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00am – 6:00pm at 5000 Ugandan shillings for adults and 2000 shillings for children –for domestic tourists, and $5 for adults and $3 for children –for foreigners.
Uganda’s railways played a fundamental role in the economic, colonial and post-colonial development of the country in terms of bringing communities together, allowing access to education and other facilities, and cementing national consciousness. The introduction of the railways in Uganda followed the August 1895 Bill in the British Parliament, authorising the construction of a railway from Mombasa to the shores of Lake Victoria. This marked the beginning of the Uganda Railway, which eventually expanded all the way to Pakwach in the north and Kasese in the west.
For many years, however, Uganda’s railways have been unused or underused, with historical artefacts (such as equipment, engines and carriages) and buildings (such as stations and workers’ cottages) falling into disrepair.
The enormous contribution of railways to Uganda’s history cannot go uncelebrated and memories kept alive and this is CCFU, a non-governmental organisation that promotes and appreciation of culture as vital for human development that responds to our diverse identities, in partnership with URC, with support from the European Union and SOGEA SATOM established the Uganda Railway Museum.
There are ongoing government efforts to revamp the railway transport with the rehabilitation of the northern line and the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway. The establishment of the railway museum complements the government of Uganda’s efforts to highlight the importance of railway transport by reinvigorating its interest among Ugandans.
Speaking on behalf of H.E. Attilio Pacifici at the grand opening of the museum in March 2022, the Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Uganda, Ms. Caroline Adriaensen, the Head of Cooperation, noted that the museum presents a great opportunity to recognise and appreciate the history of the railways in Uganda, their role in the lives of Ugandans who lived and worked along them, and their place in the country’s political and economic development. The European Union is delighted to support the revival of this crucial infrastructure and an important piece of our collective memory in Uganda.
His Lordship. Okocha Kasolo, Mayor, Jinja City in his remarks at the opening of the museum thanked the government of Uganda for the current efforts to revive the railways, noting that if the railways are revived fully, there will be little pressure on the roads and therefore their lifespan will increase. He thanked CCFU for initiating the idea of establishing railway museum and noted that an initiative like this will positively impact the finances of Jinja city as well as for the dwellers in the city.
The establishment of the Uganda Railways Museum is premised on CCFU’s previous works on the history of the railway in Uganda. A book titled “Our Railways, Our History” was produced last year to recognise and celebrate the story of our railway lines; explore their role in the lives of Ugandans who lived and worked along them, and their place in the country’s economic and political development. The book is available at 90,000shs at selected bookshops and CCFU offices.
CCFU’s Executive Director, Ms. Barbra Babweteera Mutambi, noted that the establishment of the Museum demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to safeguarding historical buildings, sites and monuments.
“We have always advocated for the safeguarding of historic buildings, sites and monuments but the establishment of the Museum gives us a chance to demonstrate to the general public how to preserve a historic building sustainably,” Ms. Babweteera said