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Expressway toll fees hit Shs119.8b in three years

The main route for the participants, the police said, will be the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway. PHOTO/ FILE

What you need to know:

  • On average, the expressway generates Shs3.7 billion per month

The Kampala-Entebbe Expressway has generated a whopping Shs119.8 billion in toll fees over the past three years, according to Eng. Stephen Kitonsa, the Acting Engineer in Chief at the Ministry of Works and Transport.

"The tolling system, introduced to sustainably fund road maintenance and loan repayment, has over the 3 years collected Shs119.8bn," Kitonsa said during a recent interview with the Monitor. He attributed the success to the efficient management of the expressway by Egis, a company that oversees the road's operations.

Kitonsa explained that the revenue collected has been steadily increasing, with Shs34.3 billion collected in 2022, Shs41.3 billion in 2023, and Shs44.4 billion in 2024. On average, the expressway generates Shs3.7 billion per month, up from Shs2.8 billion in 2022.

"As a result of the financial contribution, Egis working with the Ministry of works and Transport (MoWT) has endeavored to maintain the Expressway in excellent condition while reducing the burden on government budgets," Kitonsa added.

The expressway has also recorded impressive traffic numbers, with an average of 28,000 vehicles using the road daily, surpassing the initial projection of 18,447 vehicles per day. Over 4,570 motorists per day benefit from the Upesi electric smart card, and over 23.8 million passengers have been recorded on the road over the past three years.

 Eng. Stephen Kitonsa, the Acting Engineer in Chief at the Ministry of Works and Transport addressing the media on Tuesday. Photo | Mike Sebalu

In addition, the expressway has provided a safe and reliable route for motorists, with over 120,000 motorists supported through the toll-free emergency line. This has ensured safety and reliability for all road users.

The Kampala-Entebbe Expressway was constructed at a cost of USD476 million, with funding from the Exim Bank of China and the Government of Uganda. The project aimed to provide an efficient mass transit route between Kampala and Entebbe, reducing congestion in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

The project commenced on November 19, 2012, and was initially expected to be completed by November 18, 2017. However, the completion date was revised twice, first to November 16, 2018, and then to July 25, 2019.

The expressway spans 49.56 kilometers, connecting Kampala to Entebbe, and features a four-lane dual carriageway. The project was contracted to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), with Beijing Expressway Supervision Company serving as the supervisor.

The project comprised of the construction of a 4-lane dual carriageway with two major sections including 36.94 km road connecting Kampala Northern Bypass at Busega to the existing Kampala-Entebbe road at Mpala; and
12.62 km road from Kajjansi to Munyonyo through Lweza.