transport 11 August 2026 Parliament of Uganda
MPs Shocked by Toll System Lapses on Entebbe Expressway
Members of Parliament have expressed serious concerns over revenue leakage and operational inefficiencies on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway after witnessing a bus being charged a significantly lower toll fee due to manual intervention at a toll gate. The incident highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the automated system. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4540/toll-operational-gaps-raise-concerns-entebbe-expressway
A recent on-spot inspection of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway by the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure has exposed critical operational gaps in its toll collection system. During the assessment at the Kajjansi Toll Centre, committee members were dismayed to witness a bus being charged a mere Shs5,000, a fraction of the Shs15,000 it should have paid.
This significant undercharging occurred because an electronic toll card intended for light vehicles was manually used to override the system and open the barrier for the bus. This incident, occurring on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, has reignited concerns about potential revenue leakage and the overall effectiveness of the expressway’s toll management.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Mwine Mpaka, had previously been assured of the system’s automation. However, the discovery that manual intervention remains possible has raised questions about accountability and the integrity of the toll collection process.
Adding to the discussion, Engineer Isaac Menya, a Network Planning Engineer, advised the government to consider directly managing toll collection through a dedicated state-owned company. He suggested models similar to those in Ethiopia and Kenya, emphasizing the need for an operational structure that guarantees sufficient funds for the road’s maintenance and avoids bureaucratic delays.
Meanwhile, Pinnacle Security, the current operator, is open to discussing the potential scrapping of toll-free access for certain road user categories. This follows concerns raised by MPs, such as Hoima City Woman Representative Hon. Nyakato Asinansi, who questioned why contractors carrying out maintenance works are exempted from tolls when they are already paid by the government.
Hon. Mwine Mpaka has called for a comprehensive list of all individuals and categories currently benefiting from toll-free passes as part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into the management, toll collection, and maintenance of the expressway.
Source: Parliament of Uganda