Toll System Gaps Expose Revenue Risks on Kampala-Entebbe Expressway

What the report says

Parliamentary scrutiny of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway’s toll operations has highlighted possible weaknesses in revenue collection and system controls. During an on-site inspection on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, Members of Parliament witnessed a test in which a bus that should have been charged Shs15,000 was allowed through after an electronic toll card intended for light vehicles, worth Shs5,000, was manually used to clear it. The committee said the incident raised concerns about whether manual overrides could be creating revenue leakage.

The inspection was carried out by the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure, led by Hon. Mwine Mpaka, as part of a broader review of toll collection, management and maintenance on the expressway. According to the report, MPs had been told the system was automated, but the test suggested staff can still intervene at the barrier. The committee also pressed for details on toll-free passes and asked how often similar interventions may occur.

The ministry’s Network Planning Engineer, Isaac Menya, told the committee that government could directly manage toll collection through a dedicated entity if sufficient funds are available for maintenance. He pointed to examples from Ethiopia and Kenya as general models used in the region, while warning that ordinary government structures could slow down responses to operational problems. The report also said Pinnacle Security, which took over operations from EGIS, may discuss removing some toll exemptions with the ministry.

The findings matter because the expressway is a major transport link between Kampala and Entebbe, and any gap in toll controls could affect revenue, upkeep and public confidence in the system.