Museveni commissions Kampala-Entebbe Expressway

 

ENTEBBE - President Yoweri Museveni commissioned the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway (KEE) with a call to Ugandans not to vandalise equipment used on the road.

 

Museveni, who was flanked by Wang Yang the chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Friday, also warned thugs who plan to use the road to waylay road users not to dare. 

 

"If you trespass on expressway even after the fence mounted around it, government may consider putting electricity on it to deal with you," he said. 

 

For thieves, Museveni said government will sort them by using cameras which will be mounted along the expressway to monitor activities.

 

"If we see you on camera doing anything stupid, we shall come for you," he warned.   

 

Before even it's commissioning, there were reports that thugs had started way-laying travelers on the expressway to rob them.

 

Museveni also told Ugandans that using the expressway way will be after paying a toll fee.

 

 

According to UNRA, the tolled section of KEE is between Busega and Mpala. Before the commissioning of the expressway, UNRA's media relations manager, Allan Ssempebwa explained that there are three toll plazas at Busega (six gates), Kajjansi (five gates) and Mpala (five gates).

 

"Those who join the road through Munyonyo can use the section for free but will only pay if they want to join the expressway at Kajjansi. The toll fees will be announced by the government soon," Ssempebwa said.

 

 

KEE is a 51km toll road and the inaugural toll project for Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). The entire highway is also a four-lane, dual carriage expressway with limited access; starting from Busega in Kampala and connecting to Entebbe at Abayita Ababiri.

 

 

The construction of the KEE began in 2012 with the contract awarded to China Communication Construction Company (CCCC).

 

This was after government of Uganda in 2009 began consultations with the government of the People's Republic of China to finance the project. 

 

In November 2010, the two governments signed an agreement where the Chinese government, through the Exim Bank of China, would lend up to $350m for the construction of the highway, repayable over forty years.

 

Government of Uganda on the other hand also provided $126m; making the total cost of the expressway $476m.

 

 

Despite commissioning KEE, government made it clear that the expressway is not yet ready for use. 

 

According to the Minister of Works, Monica Azuba Ntege, KEE will be completed in November. 

 

Works State Minister, Katumba Wamala also said that using the expressway will require first of all tabling a bill in Parliament to operationalse road tolls.

 

"Once that is ready, the public will be invited to enjoy the numerous benefits of the expressway," Katumba said.

 

The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries including the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, head of civil service John Mitala, UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa, ministers, MPs and ambassadors. End