The chairperson National Logistics platform and board member Private Sector Foundation (PSFUG) Merian Sebunya has asked the residents of Gulu to prepare and position themselves for the opportunities that Gulu Logistics Hub will present.
Sebunya made the remarks onsite inspection ahead of the proposed construction of over Shs30.96 billion ($8.8m) Gulu Logistics Hub. “The only way, the community would fully benefit from this project, is by directly involving themselves in pre and post construction process,”
According to Gerald Ekinu an official from Ministry of Works and Transport, they finalized feasibility stage, undertaking design. Kintu who appreciated funders of the project said, all stakeholders will be involved in the design stage to ensure sustainability.
He noted that land within the railway area is government so no one will be compensated by the Chief Valuer but instead other those who land will be encroached will be compensated accordingly if their land is used.
The Gulu Logistics Hub will consist of Custom offices, container cleaning and repair, gate complex, railway siding, vehicle holding area and traffic flows, perimeter walls, access road, weigh in motion bridge, container freight station (CFS), and administration complex.
The Hub is timely coming at a moment when Trade Mark East Africa, UK government and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) are working on the Elegu- Nimule One Stop Border Post (OSBP), a new facility connecting Uganda and South Sudan.
Site plan covers 20867 square meters container yard, 3091 square meters container freight station, 1385 square meters administration, square meters customs office, 4206 sq. meters railway siding,12.261 square meters vehicle holding area, 500 square meters Container cleaning and repair station.
Acting Country Director for Trade Mark East Africa Damali Ssali underline the significance of the Hub saying it is expected to improve capacity of transport infrastructure in Northern Uganda to serve markets in South Sudan, Northern Uganda and parts of DRC.