By Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has experienced first-hand one of China’s high-speed bullet trains, underscoring his long-expressed vision of modernising Uganda’s transport system to ease congestion and boost productivity.
After a series of military and diplomatic engagements in Beijing, Gen Kainerugaba and his delegation boarded the sleek train for the nearly 1,200-kilometre journey to the historic city of Xi’an. Traveling at 350 kilometres per hour, the trip was completed in under five hours a journey that would have taken an entire day by road.
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The high-speed train, renowned for its comfort and efficiency, offered the delegation a smooth ride through China’s vast landscape, eliminating turbulence and delays common to air travel. Unlike in planes, passengers did not even need seat belts.
Gen Kainerugaba, who also serves as Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, has in the past spoken about his ambition to decongest Kampala and develop modern infrastructure for Ugandans weary of endless traffic jams and crumbling roads.
Observers noted the sharp contrast between China’s precision-engineered transport system and Uganda’s gridlocked roads, where commuters spend hours covering short distances. Traffic congestion alone is estimated to cost Uganda more than $800 million annually in lost productivity.
During the trip, the General witnessed businesspeople and families traveling seamlessly, a reflection of how efficient infrastructure can stimulate economic activity and enhance quality of life.
For Uganda, where transportation challenges continue to hamper growth, Gen Kainerugaba’s journey highlighted an urgent lesson: investment in modern, reliable public transit is not a luxury but a necessity.
His bullet train experience, more than just a ride between Beijing and Xi’an, offered a glimpse of what a future less burdened by congestion could mean for Uganda — a future of greater connectivity, productivity, and opportunity.
