A section of public transport operators using the Entebbe Expressway are asking the government to revise downwards the toll fees yet to be levied on their vehicles for each trip.

This comes after the government announced in November, 2021 that the government will, effective January 2022, charge varying toll fees for all vehicles along Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.

Effective January 6th 2022 French Firm Egis Operations SPA, a firm contracted by the Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA at a cost of shillings 122billion for maintenance and tolling operations for the next five years will take charge.

According to the toll fees, motorcycles with more than 400cc and not Boda Bodas will pay 3,000 Shillings, light vehicles 5,000 Shillings, medium goods vehicles(2-3axles) 10,000, large goods vehicles and buses (4-5 axles) 15,000 Shillings whereas large goods vehicles will pay 18,000.

However, taxi operators using the road complain that fees per single trip are too high compared to their income. 

“We appreciate the government for a very good road that makes traveling swift and easy but the 5000 shillings per route is too much money for us with taxis,we charge our passengers 5000 shillings each going bringing the total to 40.000 and the return trip is not guaranteed to be full yet we have three routes daily ,if the receipts were 2000 or even 3000 shillings that would have been easier,”Mustafa Kyeyune a taxi guide at Entebbe Expressway stage,

Joy Nabaasa, the Marketing and Communications manager EGIS Operations has advised passenger vehicles to opt for the monthly charges that are discounted considering no changes can be made.

“We have different cards and card discount ,the easy, weekly, and monthly pass,so it is up to the taxi owners to pay monthly because these cards fortunately have a discount of up to 70percent ,”she said

She says persons with toll cards will have them attached to a single car number plate that cannot be swapped. 

Nabaasa explains that the only emergency vehicles to be exempted from the fees are trucks, ambulances, and presidential convoys.