KAMPALA: Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has launched MV Pamba at Port Bell, Luzira, meaning the vessel is to resume operations 17 years after being grounded following an accident.
The vessel was repaired by Mango Tree Group at a cost of $3.5m (Shs12b) after signing an agreement with the government of Uganda.
While launching the return of the vessel on Thursday, 10 February 2022, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja asked the operators of the vessel to ensure affordable prices for the business community.
“The prices of transportation of cargo must be affordable for everyone. We don’t want to operate a white elephant which won’t benefit our people. We also expect accountability and transparency from Uganda Railway Corporation regarding operations of the vessel,” she said.
The prime minister also assured Ugandans that the government is building resilient infrastructure to enable business transformation.
Works and Transport minister Gen Katumba Wamala urged the business community, petroleum-based and other heavy duty companies to utilize MV Pamba to haul their cargo so as to reduce on the number of heavy trucks on our roads.
He said MV Pamba has undergone rehabilitation and upgrading to comply with international Marine regulations to enable it to be re-admitted into the Marine class to handle increased volumes of transport.
In 2005, MV Pamba was grounded for lacking international Maritime Standards. An MOU was signed with the government, bringing Mango Tree Ltd in charge of rehabilitating the vessel.
MV Pamba will complement the existing Roll on Roll off vessel MV Kaawa to haul cargo between the ports of Port Bell, Kisumu and Mwanza.
The chief executive officer of Mango Tree Group which will operate MV Pamba Mr Fan Schuchun said that the fare for the vessel is half that of road transport.
He said that they will be charging $20 (Shs70,500) per tonne of cargo.
“We thank President Yoweri Museveni and the Government of Uganda for trusting us with the responsibility of repairing the vessel. We also thank the ministry of works and transport, and Uganda Railways Corporation for working closely with Mango Tree Group in all the operations,” Mr Schuchun said.