In March 2021, CCTTFA sponsored the Uganda Coffee Federation (UCF) members quarterly meeting that was organized in partnership with Uganda Shippers Council (USC) and Uganda Railways Corporation (URC). The agenda for the meeting was to discuss the Central Corridor as an alternative route for UCF members to ensure seamless flow of their businesses.
UCF members are facing shipping delays and container unavailability due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns greatly affecting their businesses. In the meeting CCTTFA represented by the Head of Infrastructure Department Eng. Charles Sabiiti, presented the multimodal (road, railway and inland waterways) transport opportunities of the Central Corridor as a solution to their current predicament. The members were briefed on the conclusion of the rehabilitation works on meter gauge railway from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza and the resumption of services between Mwanza and Port Bell all the way to the Kampala Goods Shed. These services are being provided by Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) in partnership with Marine Services Company Limited (MSCL) and Uganda Railways Corporation for the railway and inland waterways services. There are 2 vessels plying the route MV Kaawa (URC) and MV Umoja (MSCL) with MV Pamba expected to resume services in May 2021.
The key outcome of the meeting agreed by members was for UCF secretariat to engage more with CCTTFA to meet service providers in Tanzania and Uganda to expedite use of Central Corridor multimodal opportunities.
More Info on UCF:
The Uganda Coffee Federation (UCF) is registered as a non-profit company, limited by guarantee. Its membership includes coffee exporters, coffee processors, farmers, companies that supply equipment and supplies to coffee exporters and processors, clearing and forwarding companies, insurance companies, banks and international coffee trading houses in Europe.