Question: Why Was The Uganda Railway Called So?

The Uganda Railway was named after its ultimate destination, for its entire original 1,060-kilometre (660 mi) length actually lay in what would become Kenya.

Who constructed Uganda Railway?

The first railway to Uganda Ramsay Nicholson and his young brother Pearce supervised the construction of the railway bridge in 1926. The railway finally reached Kampala in 1931 before being extended to Kasese in western Uganda where it reached in 1956 and the northern line reaching Arua in 1964.

Why was Uganda Railway extended to Kampala?

The railway did much to build the economy in the region, facilitating opportunities for trade and export. After WWI the railway was extended to Kampala. Extensions were built from Tororo to Soroti in 1929, Kampala to Kasese in 1956 and Arua in 1964.

Why is it called Lunatic Line?

The “iron snake” was the Kenya-Uganda Railway, or the “Lunatic Express,” as the British press liked to call because of the colossal waste of wealth and human life suffered during its construction.

Does Uganda have a railway?

The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is the parastatal railway of Uganda.

When was Uganda Railway built?

Built by the British government, and named for its ultimate destination, the Uganda Railway didn’t actually reach Uganda. Construction began in 1896 in the port city of Mombasa and continued its course northwest through today’s Kenya to its terminus on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria.

Is there a train from Kenya to Uganda?

More than a 100 years ago, the British opened the “Lunatic Express,” a 600-mile railway running through Uganda and Kenya, to cement its colonial claims over rival European powers in East Africa. Today, Kenya has replaced that decrepit rail line with a new one, this time built by a new foreign power in the region.

Why is Lunatic Express?

During construction, the railway was soon nicknamed the “Lunatic Express”: the workers had to lay rails for the train in Kenya over mountains, through valleys and swamps, surrounded by dangerous animals that lurked. Add to that a good dose of tropical diseases, and hello misery and misery!

Who built the Lunatic Line?

Or they could have bought a ticket on the storied Lunatic Express, the single-gauge railway line built by British colonialists at the turn of the 20th Century, which became something of a legend among travellers and historians alike. The Nairobi Railway Museum, opened in 1971, tells much of its legendary history.

What factors led to the construction of the Uganda Railway?

Give five reasons for the construction of the Uganda railway.

• To facilitate faster movement of troops into the interior.
• To ensure effective administration/control over British protectorate.
• To facilitate abolition of slave trade/promotion of legitimate trade.
• To link the land locked Uganda with the coast/outside world.

What were the results of the Uganda Railway on the economy of Kenya during the colonial period?

It led to the development of urban centers. It facilitated the movement of traders/promoted trade. It led to the creation of employment opportunities. It was a major source of revenue for the colonial authority.

Why did the British build the Uganda Railway?

What were the reasons for the construction of Kenya-Uganda railway during the colonial period? To facilitate the movement of the troops to suppress resistances/pacification. To transport the administrators into the interior for effective control of British East Africa.

Which country in Africa does not have a railway?

Africa: Current railway network [free access] Country-wise, South Africa has the largest rail network of around 22,051 km. Countries such as Burundi, Comoros, Libya and Rwanda still have no connectivity via railway networks.