East Africa has 10 main corridors with a total length of about 15,000 km, which constitute the East African Regional Road Network. These are roads of strategic importance in facilitating trade and require to be kept in a high standard condition, supported by internal and external funding pools from international organisations and the neighbouring countries.

There are two transit corridors that facilitate import and export activities in the region:

a) The Northern Corridor (1,700 km long) commencing from the port of Mombasa and serves Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DRC.

b) The Central Corridor (1,300 km long) begins at the port of Dar es Salaam and serves Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Eastern DRC.

The ten major road transport corridors are:

1. Northern Corridor Mombasa- Corridor Length (rounded):  2,080km

Nairobi – Nakuru – Eldoret – Bungoma – Malaba – Bugiri – Jinja – Kampala – Masaka – Katuna/Gatuna – Kigali – Nemba/Gasenyi – Ngozi - Kayanza – Bugarama - Bujumbura

2. Central Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 2,170km

Dar es Salaam – Morogoro – Dodoma – Singida – Nzega – Tinde – Isaka - Lusahunga to: 
(i) Gisenyi via Rusumo and Kigali 
(ii) Bujumbura via Nyakasanza, Kobero and Gitega 
(iii) Masaka via Bukoba and Mutukula

3. Dar es Salaam (TAZARA) Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 1,100km

Morogoro – Iringa – Mbeya -Tunduma

4. Namanga Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 1,800km

Iringa – Dodoma - Babati – Arusha – Namanga – Nairobi – Thika -Murang’a – Embu – Nyeri – Nanyuki – Isiolo – Marsabit - Moyale

5. Sumbawanga Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 1,260km

Tunduma – Sumbawanga –Mpanda – Uvinza – Kasulu – Manyovu/Mugina – Makamba -Nyanza Lac – Rumonge -Bujumbura

6. Sirari Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 1,500km

Biharamulo – Mwanza – Musoma - Sirari/Isebania – Kisii - Kisumu – Kakamega – Webuye - Kitale - Lodwar Lokichokio

7. Coastal Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 1,500km

Mingoyo - Dar es Salaam - Bagamoyo – Tanga – Horohoro/Lunga lunga – Kwale – Mombasa – Kilifi – Malindi - Lamu

8. Mtwara Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 800km

Mtwara – Mingoyo – Masasi –Tunduru – Songea - Mbamba Bay

9. Tanga Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 1,650km

Tanga – Arusha – Musoma – Lake Victoria - Kampala

10. Gulu Corridor- Corridor Length (rounded): 600km

Nimule – Bibia – Gulu – Lira – Soroti – Mbale – Tororo

Total East African Road Corridor Network Length 14,460km

The goal is to cater to the development of a more competitive, integrated and liberalised regional road transport market in the East and Southern African region for the economical and future strength of the region.

The East African communities are investing in efficient air transport network as it has a direct effect on increasing tourism, mining and manufacturing, which in turn has an indirect benefit to the local community in terms of labour, supply of raw materials and livelihood. It facilitates international trade and makes business travel easier and more efficient.

The focus is on regulatory and oversight system, improved airport facilities, air navigation systems and affordable air transport through liberalisation of the industry for an easy trade and transport with in East Africa.

The East African countries are aiming to construct and rehabilitate several airports in the region as part of their regional and international air service capacity to accommodate the regional and international business flow.

East Africa is home to 4 of Africa’s 10 busiest ports, including the Port of Mombasa in Kenya, the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, the Port of Beirain Mozambique and the Port of Djibouti. Growing volumes of cargo at all African ports has forced port authorities and operators in East African nations to expand capacity, analyse operations to increase efficiency and employ measures to allow bigger ships into their ports.

The East African region has a number of projects underway to address these issues. The new Lamu Port in Kenya and the Bagamoyo Port in Tanzania are examples of how the region is preparing for its growing port capacity needs. These countries plan to improve efficiency and security at their ports through the use of new technologies and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions.

One of the largest upcoming seaport projects in East Africa is the Bagamoyo Port at the cost of US$10 billion. The project is scheduled to be constructed on the shores of the Indian Ocean includes an industrial economic zone located at Mbegani creek in Bagamoyo Municipal Council, 75 km (47 miles) north of Dar es Salaam commercial city.

The port would dwarf neighbouring Kenya’s port at Mombasa, East Africa’s trade gateway some 300 km (180 miles) to the north, and include rail and road links to a region hoping to exploit new oil and gas finds.

Once the project gets implemented, it will be the largest port in East Africa. It is expected to have a capacity of about 20 million TEUs by 2045, 25 times the amount of cargo that the Dar es Salaam port handles.

Railway transport is the second most important mode of transport after road in East Africa and critical for long distance freight along the main transport corridors.

The neighbouring countries acknowledges the need to rationalise rail development within the region and to harmonise road and rail transport operations along the main corridors and has therefore, prepared an East African Railways Master Plan to guide the future development of the railway services in the region.

Tanzania has a total of 3,676 km of railway lines operated by two railway systems, Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) and Tanzania – Zambia Railways (TAZARA). Due to poor conditions of tracks and ageing rolling stock and locomotives, tonnage freight volumes and passenger numbers have continued to fall every year. However, efforts have been taken and some sections of the railway lines have been revamped, leading to an increase in the numbers of passengers and cargo.

Kenya has a rail network of 2,778 Km of lines. The mainline connects the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi and to the Kenya / Uganda border at Malaba. Even though the freight performance has also continued to decline, it still plays a critical role in the transport of export and import goods which account for about 35% of the long haul freight traffic handled at the port of Mombasa. In 2017, Kenya opened the 579 km Nairobi - Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), while runs parallel to the Kenya/ Uganda railway line. The introduction of the SGR has seen an increase in freight and passengers between Mombasa and Nairobi.

Uganda’s total developed rail network covers 1,250 km, until recently only 265 km are currently serviceable due to abandonment or closure. Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has embarked on an ambitious revamping exercise in an effort fast-track development and spur trade. URC has also launched cargo services to the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania following more than decade of dormancy.

Investments of railway infrastructure projects in East Africa are incising with time and benefiting the economy and the future of the region in a great manner.