KAMPALA – The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has concluded a high-level visit to China that included a firsthand experience with the country’s advanced transportation infrastructure, a move seen as aligning with his stated vision to modernize Uganda’s cities.
Following military and diplomatic meetings in Beijing, Gen Kainerugaba and his delegation traveled to the ancient city of Xi’an via one of China’s famed high-speed “bullet” trains. The nearly 1,200-kilometer journey, which can take a full day by road, was completed in under five hours.
The CDF, who also serves as the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, witnessed the train reaching speeds of 350 kilometers per hour, offering a smooth, efficient, and comfortable travel experience that stands in stark contrast to the daily reality for many Ugandan commuters.
The trip served as a powerful practical demonstration of the transformative potential of modern infrastructure. Gen Kainerugaba observed the system’s seamless operation, which moves millions of people daily with precision and reliability, enabling business and family travel with ease.
This experience directly relates to the General’s previously expressed ambition to transform Kampala into a modern metropolis and alleviate the severe economic and social costs of traffic congestion. In Uganda, congestion is estimated to cost the economy approximately $800 million annually in lost productivity.
For a nation actively seeking solutions to its transportation challenges, the lesson was clear: strategic investment in modern, efficient public transit is not a luxury, but a critical necessity for national development.
Gen Kainerugaba’s bullet train journey was more than mere travel; it was an immersive look at a model of connectivity that could inspire transformative change, pointing toward a less congested and more economically vibrant future for Uganda.
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