Kisumu, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | Kenya’s newly constructed vessel, MV Uhuru II, embarked on its first voyage from Kisumu Port to Uganda’s Port Bell in Kampala on Friday, primarily transporting steel cargo. This milestone comes after the vessel was officially handed over by Kenya Shipyard Limited—managed by the Kenyan military—to Kenya Railways Corporation the day before.
MV Uhuru II will operate a triangular route connecting Kisumu, Port Bell, and Tanzania’s Mwanza Port, a development expected to significantly improve cargo transportation between the three East African nations.
Completed and commissioned in October 2023 at a cost of UGX 69 billion (Ksh 2.4 billion), the vessel has passed rigorous international shipping safety and efficiency tests.
This is the fifth ship to begin operations on Lake Victoria within the last five years. Notably, MV Uhuru I was rehabilitated and launched in 2021, and Tanzania’s MV Mwanza-Hapa Kazi Tu started operations from Mwanza to Port Bell last year.
Uganda’s MV Mpungu, commissioned by the Ministry of Works in February this year, is also set to serve the three ports, alongside the refurbished MV Kaawa cargo vessel.
With the launch of MV Uhuru II, water transport on Africa’s largest lake is poised for a substantial upgrade, particularly enhancing Uganda’s access to regional markets in the absence of a fully functional railway system. This initiative aims to streamline logistics and bolster trade among the East African Community members.
“MV Uhuru II’s official entry into the service and our first operational journey on Lake Victoria today is indeed a monumental step in advancing Kenya’s maritime infrastructure and the blue economy,” Kenya’s Transport Minister (Cabinet Secretary) Davis Chirchir said.
The MV Uhuru II, a 100-meter vessel, boasts a capacity to carry over 1,000 metric tons of cargo per trip and is set to operate three weekly voyages between Kisumu, Port Bell, and Mwanza. This development is expected to significantly enhance trade across the three East African ports.
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Speaking on the occasion, Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir called for the elimination of non-tariff barriers within the East African Community (EAC), which he emphasized are hindering trade and economic growth.
“We are working to harmonise and standardize processes to reduce transaction time and the cost of doing business in our region,” Chirchir stated.
The petroleum industry is anticipated to be one of the major beneficiaries of this initiative, given that petroleum products are Uganda’s largest import. The MV Uhuru II is expected to provide a more efficient means of transporting fuel and other cargo, benefiting not only Uganda but the entire East African region.
