You Have Enjoyed Enough, It’s ‘Time to Collect Chinese’ Money’, Next Week Motorists to Start Paying For Use of Kampala-Entebbe Expressway
The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) today revealed that the toll cards to all road users of Kampala-Entebbe Expressway are now available at the toll plazas of Busega, Kajjansi and Mpala.
According to the Authority, the motorists using the Expressway will start paying money on 08th January 2022.
“We have commenced issuance of toll cards to all road users of the Kampala—Entebbe Expressway today. Cards are now available at the toll plazas of Busega, Kajjansi and Mpala. Motorists will continue using the road freely until actual tolling begins,” UNRA said on Monday.
The roads body asserted that now Ugandans are free to visit any toll plaza with their national IDs or passport and register to get the toll cards for free.
For starters, In May 2011, the government acquired a loan worth US 350 Million Dollars (approximately 1.2 Trillion shillings) from the Exim Bank of China to finance the construction of the 51.4km Kampala -Entebbe Expressway. The four-lane expressway comprises two road sections – a 36.94km-long section and a 12.68km-long link road.
According to the loan agreement, the loan repayment schedule will run from July 21st, 2019 to 21st January 2032. In the 13 year repayment period, the government plans to pay USD 26.8 Million (approximately 101.8 billion shillings) a year.
How much to pay:
In November, the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala announced that after rigorous process that involved going through parliament, government had finally released the fees payable by motorists to use the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.
“Motorcycles with more than 400cc and not boda bodas will pay shs3000, light vehicles shs5000, medium goods vehicles(2-3axles) shs10,000, large goods vehicles and buses(4-5 axles) shs15000 whereas large goods vehicles will pay shs18000,”Gen Katumba said, noting that the fees will be for one way use.
According to government, weekly users will be given a 50% discount for seven-day return trips purchased in advance whereas monthly users will have up to 70% in discount for 30 days return trips paid for in advance.
Electronic card users will have 10% discount per trip,” he said.
The road was constructed by China Communication Construction Company and is expected to ease traffic jam from Uganda’s capital , Kampala to Entebbe as well as reducing the travel time for motorists to the airport from 120 minutes in the past using the narrow old Entebbe road to only 30 minutes.