During the meeting , Kibaki and his guest agreed to set up a joint Ministerial Commission to expedite the construction of the railway line and modalities on its future management.

President Museveni arrived in Kenya on Monday to attend the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) which is scheduled to begin today in Nairobi.

According to the news release from the President Press Unit, the joint Ministerial Commission will comprise the two countries’ Ministers of Transport, Finance and Attorney-Generals of the two countries. Work on the railway line will commence in March next year.

In order to speed up transportation of goods to and from Mombasa Port, the two leaders agreed that Uganda build its depot at Mombasa Port. The Kenyan government will provide land for the construction of this depot and Uganda will compensate Kenya with land currently under the army at Kitante.

They also agreed that in order to ensure that goods and services from East Africa compete favorably at international markets, the railway line must be cheaper and efficient.

Other areas discussed included, ICT and infrastructure development which the two leaders said were the prime movers and necessary accelerators of development in the two countries and the region as a whole.

Museveni also held talks today with Kenya’s Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. The meeting took place at Hotel Inter-continental.