The Contribution of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Towards Promoting Harmony in the East African Member States

Evidently, after road transport, rail transport comes second as the most important mode of transport in East Africa, for freight as well as passenger services. The study sought to critically analyze how the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) had contributed to the promotion of harmony among the East African member states. The SGR being a futuristic project serves to integrate Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya. The SGR will act as an integration tool and will enable the East African Community (EAC) to better enhance cooperation and resolve conflicts in building and operating the SGR. It is thought that the SGR project will bring about strong interdependence among the EAC and hence will foster peace and minimize conflicts. This study presents an analysis of the SGR to define the benefits that have and will be realized. The research will analyze how the SGR as a tool will promote harmony among the East African member states, how the SGR will enhance tourism and how the SGR will create employment opportunities and finally how the SGR will enhance environmental conservation among the East African countries.

The methodology for the study was mainly based on secondary sources and inclined on predictive analysis. The study included review of existing literature on metropolitan rail development with a few case studies from advanced economy Nations and low income Nations. The study found out that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will have massive harmonization values for the East African member states and is crucial to development and attaining the development goals of the EAC including but not limited to guaranteeing environmental sustainability and to develop a global partnership for development. The fifth East Africa Committee’s (EAC’s) development strategy is to build a firm foundation for transforming the EAC into a stable, competitive and sustainable lower middle income region by 2021. Priority areas include among others the development of regional infrastructure, promotion of regional peace, security and the enhancement of free movement of factors of production all of which cannot be attained without harmony in the region.