Almost a week since the launch of tolling on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway (KEE), some Ugandans have continued asking the Ministry of Works and Transport as well as Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to exempt them from the fees required to access the way.
According to the Road Act, 2019, and available regulations governing operations on toll roads in the country, only emergency vehicles of the fire brigade and ambulances as well as the presidential convoy are exempted from paying the toll fees.
Now, some people such as Asan Kasingye, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) Political Commissar, have been asking for exemptions for some vehicles such as those belonging to the police patrol teams.
Others are also suggesting that high profile individuals such as the Vice President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament and his Deputy also be exempted.
“We pray that no one here asks where the police were when something happened on the highway. Please support my call to allow police patrol vehicles to access the highway without pay. We don’t lose much by allowing a designated patrol car or two for that road,” argued Kasingye.
In response, UNRA made it clear that “all institutions of Government are now required to plan for and acquire Toll cards for ease of conduct of their operations while on the Expressway.” The Roads Authority also complained that it was getting “overwhelming calls and requests for exemptions” from toll fees. UNRA encouraged all stakeholders to “join us in denouncing” calls for exemptions.
UNRA’s statement was reechoed by Minister Katumba Wamala who today told legislators that for now, only the presidential convoy would be exempt from the toll fees. He made it clear that only a change in the Road Act and regulations governing toll operations would exempt a few more government officials.
When she toured Busega and Kajjansi toll plazas on Monday, ED Kagina noted that government will continue encouraging Ugandans to participate by paying the toll fees so as to make the KEE project succeed. Kagina also argued that it was “a little bit unfair” for those paying the toll fees to hear that some people were asking for exemptions for the same service. “So, let’s try and equalize the ground so that we all pay and enjoy the service,” she appealed.
