You have probably come across a meme about Kampala Express Highway. The meme (popular in Uganda) shows a Google Search screenshot confirming that the Entebbe Express Highway is the most expensive road in the world. Well today, we assure you that YES, this is the most expensive road worldwide!
Kampala – Entebbe expressway was opened to traffic in June 2018. It connects the Northern Bypass at Busega to Uganda’s international Airport. Kampala Express Highway is the very first toll road in Uganda. The Uganda National Road Authority developed it.
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In 2009, the consultation for this billion project between the Government of Uganda and China started. The project intended improve traffic conditions and mitigate the congestion on the bypass. The road was also meant to lift the burden on other distributor roads in urban areas.
What Does Kampala Express Highway Look Like?
The million dollar infrastructure has two lanes in each direction. It also has two road sections (36.94km long section and 12.68km long link road). Additionally, the speed limit on this road ranges between 50km/ -100km/h. Lengthwise, the highway is 36.94km long and has a division into two. One of the parts has a 24.9km stretch off the section that starts at a point on the Kampala Northern Bypass. It then runs along the new route before ending at Abayita ababiri. The 12.04km section starts at the Interchange (Abayita ababiri) and winds along the existing Kampala-Entebbe road. 7.4km of it was widened and 4.64km upgraded to the latest standards.
Moreover, its 12.68km long roads originate from the highway at Kajjansi interchange and continue eastwards up to Munyonyo Bridges. It then Interchanges on the Expressway adding to the four interchanges at Kajjansi, Busega, Lweza and Mpala. Kampala express higway has nineteen over-bridges and eighteen underpasses. These help provide access to other areas around. Also, three main toll plazas are on the expressway at Mpala, Kajjansi and Busega. Mpala and Kajjansi toll plazas. These have exactly five gates. The Busega toll plaza differs itself unique with six toll gates.
Who Made Kampala Express Highway?
The Ugandan consulting firm Project Management and Engineering provided the site project management, investigations and laboratory tests, and geotechnical survey services in 2012. 2013. Eventually, UNRA engaged the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank as the transaction adviser for this project. The IFC then contracted IMC Worldwide and Vetiver Associates to provide preliminary assessment for the toll road.
The Funding Process And How It Totals To $476 Million
The express highway jointly got funds through the government of Uganda and the Exim Bank of China. Uganda contributed only USD 126m out of $476 m for the project. China Exim Bank coughed the remaining part of USD350m as a preferential buyer credit loan. The GoU signed the agreement in May 2011. Apparently, the loan should be repaid in 40 years by the government. The Ugandan government has promised to get the sum through collecting taxes from its citizens. Additionally, the government of Uganda is will pay extra USD 40m. This is the amount which compensated the landowners who were vacated.
What are the Benefits of this toll on the road?
The hugest benefit of paying for Kampala Express Highway is less travel time. The world-class carriageway exists to ease traffic congestion on main roads in Kampala city and its suburbs. According to statistics, Uganda’s road traffic is growing at an estimated rate of 4.5 per cent per year. This explains itself by the steadily growing number of automobiles. This project has reduced the travel time from Kampala to Entebbe or vice versa. It takes about 30 minutes unlike the 120 minutes using the old Kampala – Entebbe road.
