MV Mpungu sets sail on Lake Victoria after 21-month construction

The MV Mpungu, the first ship of its kind by East Africa Marine Transport (EAMT) on Lake Victoria, was unveiled after a 21-month construction period.

Thursday marked its launch at the specialized Entebbe shipyard operated by Southern Engineering Co. Ltd (SECO), a subsidiary of the Alpha Group.

The MV Mpungu is set to become Lake Victoria's inaugural roll-on/roll-off freight vessel, aiming to meet the demand for a dependable freight service to support regional and global trade.

Roll-on/roll-off freight vessels are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their wheels or using a platform vehicle, such as a self-propelled modular transporter. The vessels have either built-in or shore-based ramps or ferry slips that allow the cargo to be efficiently rolled on and off the vessel when in port.

InfraCo Africa, a division of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), along with seasoned regional logistics firm Grindrod Limited, commissioned this 96-meter-long vessel.

With a capacity to accommodate up to 1,000 tons of containerized cargo, equivalent to twenty-one trailers, it marks a significant addition to the region's logistics capabilities.

EAMT also received support from the European Union-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF), which provided funding for market and technical studies, as well as legal and regulatory assistance.

Brenda Omuombo, Regional HSES Manager at PIDG, had the privilege of officially launching and christening the vessel.

She participated in the maritime tradition of breaking a bottle of champagne on its hull, expressing her honor to be part of the event and extending well wishes for the success of the MV Mpungu and its crew.

Subsequently, specialized teams from SECO Marine (U) Ltd facilitated the vessel's launch into Lake Victoria.

Minister for Works in Uganda Echwera Musa expressed gratitude to the young individuals who contributed to the construction of the MV Mpungu vessel, referring to them as today's heroes.

He extended appreciation to those who initially conceived the idea, the company owners who decided to invest in this region of Africa, and the vessel designers who transformed the concept into reality.

Musa thanked the stakeholders for their confidence in Uganda, assuring them of the safety of their investment.

“I pledge support in overcoming the challenges of maritime transport and envision a future where reliable vessels fill the waterways,” he said.

Following the launch, Rodney Seema, InfraCo Africa's Regional Asset Management Lead, said it represents the culmination of extensive efforts spanning several years by all involved parties to develop, finance, design, and construct the vessel.

"We eagerly anticipate observing the economic benefits the scheduled freight service will generate for Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and the broader region."

Sujal, Director of SECO Marine (U) Ltd, said the launch was an achievement. "It is a significant achievement for the vessel, Uganda's maritime sector, and regional logistics within the East African community."

Launch of MV Mpungu in Lake Victoria. (KPA)

Grindrod will manage the EAMT vessel, providing freight carriers access to reliable, scheduled freight service between Uganda and Tanzania.

The EAMT vessel will cross the lake in an anticipated time of eighteen hours, compared with the current journey around the lake by congested regional roads which can take between three and four days.

This reduction in transit time is poised to prevent the spoilage of fresh produce and stimulate trade.

Additionally, the fuel-efficient freight vessel will reduce carbon emissions and alleviate congestion on the region's road network by reducing the number of freight vehicles.

Xolani Mbambo, CEO of Grindrod Limited, emphasized the importance of understanding customer needs and providing innovative solutions for efficient and cost-effective cargo transportation to markets.

"The ferry operation aims to deliver a dependable, efficient, and cost-effective solution for businesses in the region, promoting trade and contributing to economic growth. We are excited to be part of this project and have full confidence in our operational teams' ability to deliver exceptional results."

The Kenya Port Authority congratulated Uganda for the launch of vessel MV Mpungu.

“This is a huge milestone for the East Africa Lake region as it will enhance lake transport and trade between Port Bell, Mwanza, Jinja and Kisumu port. Lake transport is on a steady rise as East African countries of Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya work towards connecting the region and improving trade through the shared Lake Victoria,” KPA stated.

It further noted this is evidenced by the rise of cargo throughput handled in Kisumu Port, with the inland waterway port handling 127,745 metric tons of cargo in 2023 compared to 69,456 metric tons in 2022.

MV Mpungu is the latest addition to the fleet of vessels that ply the lake region.