Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director Allen C Kagina has visited the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway toll plazas to monitor performance a few days after the launch of tolling operations on the road.
On January 08, Works and Transport Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala officially launched tolling operations on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.
When she visited the Busega and Kajjansi toll plazas on Monday, UNRA ED Kagina observed that there was a marked reduction in service time, and that there was no traffic congestion as is normally the case on other roads.
Kagina also noted that the number of Ugandans using the expressway had continued to rise since the start of tolling operations. She revealed that over 30,000 vehicles were cleared to use the toll road in the first two days.
The ED further said that UNRA and Government of Uganda (GoU) had anticipated that 13,500 people would be using the expressway daily, on average. Figures from the roads agency indicate that on the first day, the number of vehicles was slightly below the 13,500 average, but shot up to a little over 18,000 on the second day.
“So, we have gone beyond what we had projected,” she added.
Kagina also expressed happiness with the high level of compliance exhibited by Ugandans using the services offered by Egis, the company operating tolling services on KEE. “I really want to thank the public for complying and paying the toll because the level of service that the company, Egis, is giving is commensurate with the toll,” she noted.
“We had a few incidents where some people, maybe who didn’t attend our sensitization [workshops] and thought they could just pass, but they were redirected to either pay or use the old road because the Old Entebbe Road is there and still free.”
Further explaining that the law exempts some cars, such as emergency vehicles of the fire brigade and ambulances as well as the presidential convoy, from paying the toll, Kagina revealed that more people had sought exemption from the toll.
She went on to say that while such requests can be dealt with under the law, 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.
She equally assured road users that the expressway would be “maintained in excellent condition all the time,” with maximum lighting and security beefed up through regular patrols and CCTV cameras.
Kagina also emphasized that there would be free towing services for vehicles which break down or get involved in accidents along the expressway. “That level of service, you don’t find it on any other roads,” she added.
The ED further expressed UNRA’s commitment to engaging with all stakeholders to resolve the few issues that have come up, as well continuing with the sensitization of the public on the tolling operations.
