President Yoweri Museveni has expressed his admiration

“I used the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway on my way to Entebbe State House today (Tuesday). I commend the value-added services now offered to motorists including high-quality maintenance, security, and emergency services by UNRA,” Museveni said.

The Minister for Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala on Saturday, January 8, 2022 commissioned the tolling operations on the KEE and then calmly paid his toll at 10:26 am.

Wamala then listed those who are exempted from the toll namely the President and emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire brigade. However, several agencies, including health workers have asked for exemptions, too.

However, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director Allen Kagina said those seeking exemptions must take into consideration those paying the toll and measure their own requests against the unfairness of a lopsided system of exemptions.

“They want an exemption, but want the same service. Let us all pay and enjoy the service. What is the service? The road is going to be maintained in excellent conditions all the time, it will be lit, it will be secure and there will be cameras around,” Kagina said.

However, Asan Kasingye, the Police Political Commissar, appealed to UNRA to reconsider exempting police patrol cars deployed on the expressway too.

“UNRA There is a designated police patrol vehicle to check on criminality on those roads and prevent crimes. It takes average of 10 trips from Busega-Mpala and back. This makes it 20 Toll passes at 5k totaling to 100k per day and 3m per month. What do we do?” Kasingye said.

On the flipside, UNRA Media Relations Manager Allan Ssempebwa advised police to reach into its operational envelope to pay expressway dues, adding that security on the KEE is already in place.

“Following insecurity concerns on the Expressway, we now have 24/7 security patrols courtesy of toll fees. You also get to have free ambulance and towing services, not to mention the regular maintenance works,” Ssempebwa said.