This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
On November 28, 2019, the World Bank's Vice-President for Infrastructure, Makhtar Diop, met with Raila Odinga, the African Union's High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, to discuss the development of waterways in the region.
Diop emphasized the World Bank's commitment to supporting the development of lake waterways, particularly in Lake Victoria and the Port of Kisumu, which he believes have the potential to uplift the entire eastern Africa region.
Diop also highlighted the World Bank's plans to fund the construction of the Lake Ring Road, set up a school for maritime activities in Kisumu, and help small towns around the lake to grow.
Raila Odinga emphasized the centrality of the Port of Kisumu, which has the capacity to deliver goods and tourists to Bukoba for onward movement to Bujumbura and Kigali.
He appealed to the World Bank to help fast-track the development of Mwanza, Port Bell, and Jinja, as well as develop transport on Lake Tanganyika to link up with Lake Victoria and the Port of Kisumu.
