The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has started work to install lights along the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway in response to complaints about darkness from numerous users of the expressway.
Excavations began this week, according to Allan Ssempebwa, media relations manager for the UNRA.
“We are now undertaking excavations along the expressway in preparation for installation of cables and poles,” said Ssempebwa.
Ssempebwa revealed that over 1,000 light poles and bulbs will be installed from Mpala to Busega.
“We hope to have some lights up by end of this year and continue all through next year till works are finished,” he said.
The UNRA hired the French company Egis Roads Operation S. A. last year to handle the expressway’s maintenance and road toll collection.
On January 8, the firm started collecting road tolls along the 51.4km road. In the first month, the government collected at least Shs2.5 billion.
The Kampala Entebbe Expressway is a four-lane road with over 19 flyovers. The road toll payment plan is as follows; motorcycles with more than 400cc and not boda bodas pay Shs3000, light vehicles pay Shs5000, medium-goods vehicles (2-3 axles) shs10,000, large goods vehicles and buses (4 axles) pay Shs15000, whereas large goods vehicles pay Shs18000.
