Parliament Probes Toll-Revenue Controls on Entebbe Expressway

News Summary: Parliament's Committee on Physical Infrastructure has summoned former Works and Transport Minister Gen Edward Katumba Wamala and former UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina over weaknesses identified in the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway tolling system. MPs reported problems including manual vehicle classification, misclassification of vehicles and system freezes that can allow vehicles through before payment is recorded.

Kampala-Entebbe Expressway; Source: MOWT

Context

The committee is examining the procurement, operation and oversight of toll collection on the 25km expressway. The original five-year toll-management contract was awarded to Egis Road Operation in May 2021; after that contract elapsed, toll operations were transferred to Pinnacle Security Limited. MPs say weaknesses in the collection system could result in revenue leakage, although the current operator has disputed that the identified glitches have caused financial losses.

Stakeholder Implications

Toll Operators & Road Concessionaires: The investigation reinforces the importance of automated vehicle classification, independently auditable traffic data, reliable transaction records and clear performance standards in toll-road operations.

Infrastructure Financiers & Government Agencies: Where road revenues are intended to support operating costs or debt servicing, gaps between vehicle movements, transactions and deposited revenue become material project-governance risks.