MICHAEL ABONEKA: Fix the Darkness on the Kampala Express highway and the Northern By-pass

The Ministry of Works and Transport officially opened the Kampala Entebbe Express which is only accessible at a fee. The total project sum of this road is USD 479,172,020 for 49.6km and has been reported to be the most expensive road in the world. I use this road frequently and yes; it is good infrastructure as it eases movement. However, there is no single light post on the most expensive road in the world. The entire stretch after the toll gates is engulfed in darkness like an abandoned road. It is dangerously dark and hence forcing motorists to drive in full beam throughout which is also fatal.

How can the most expensive road in the world lack lights? Or it was designed this way, not to have lights at all; or was it a design error? I have on several times called upon the Ministry for Works and Transport and the Uganda National Roads Authority to consider fixing lights on this highway-for goodness’ sake, at least 30 light posts would be sufficient for this road. The Ministry has already collected more than 200 million Uganda Shillings from the road tolls which part of it will be going to maintenance of the highway and therefore this should already sufficient to give us some light.

Further, the Kampala Northern by-pass too has no lights, save for those at the flyovers and inter-sections. This has contributed to the recent increased criminality on the northern bypass. The Ministry should ensure there is coordinated security and patrols on highways and the designated Police patrol cars should be exempted from the road toll; it is illogical to ask Police to pay a road toll to keep the road safe; it may seem that the Ministry is only interested in the money and not the safety of the highway and its users.

Let’s fix this immediately.