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Uganda risks electrocuting citizens to protect Entebbe Expressway

Should Uganda risk the lives of its citizens just so it could secure the newly built Entebbe Expressway which the administration of Yoweri Museveni prides as a legacy project?

Published

7 years ago

June 18, 2018

Africa News Watch

Should Uganda risk the lives of its citizens just so it could secure the newly built Entebbe Expressway which the administration of Yoweri Museveni prides as a legacy project? This is the question currently agitating the minds of many in the East African country where Yoweri has arm-twisted the legislature to extend the age requirement for the President to over 70 years.

Government is considering electrifying of Entebbe expressway fence to put to an end the vandalism of road infrastructure, according to a declaration by President Yoweri Museveni.

The President made the remarks while commissioning the Kampala Entebbe Expressway at Mpala toll station in Wakiso District on Friday evening. The function was also graced by Wang Yang, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Museveni notes that electrifying the fence will minimize the burden of maintaining the vandalized road infrastructures which costs a lot of funds to maintain. Cameras will also be installed to ease monitoring of activities along the road.

The equipment usually vandalized, according the Uganda National Roads Authority – UNRA, includes guard rails and road signs.

The president also reminded motorists who wish to use the road that they will have to pay a yet to be determined amount of money because the expressway was built as a toll road, under the public private partnership.

The tolling section, according to Uganda National Roads Authority, measures 25 km running from Busega through Kajjansi to Abayita Ababiri (Mpala).

Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the state Minister for Works, says the toll fee will be fixed after enactment of the Road Toll Bill. Road tolling is a form of road pricing, on either a public or private roadway, typically implemented to help recover the cost of road construction and maintenance.

Wang Yang, the Chinese government official who presided over the commissioning of the Expressway is optimistic that the road will boost industrialization in Uganda since it would reduce time goods spend in transit from Entebbe to Kampala.

The 49.56 km highway connects Kampala city to Entebbe International Airport was constructed with a loan of up to USD 476 million (about 1.8 trillion shillings) from the Exim Bank of China constructed by the China communication Construction Company (CCCC).

According to the findings of Committee of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), the road has costed Uganda $9.2 million per kilometer over and above the average $2 million per kilometer road.

Meanwhile, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians will not be allowed to use the newly constructed road when it is officially opened.

The government of Uganda is to put up more for expressway Enhance efficient passenger and freight operations, improve mobility, reduce travel times, vehicle operating costs and accident rates. The four includes the Kampala-Jinja Expressway (KJE), Kampala-Busunju Expressway, Kampala-Busega-Mpigi Expressway, Kampala Outerbelt and Kampala-Bombo Expressway.

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Moroccan annual inflation rises to 0.8% in November

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s statistics office has confirmed that the country’s annual inflation rate, as determined by the consumer price index, increased from 0.7% in October to 0.8% in November.

Monthly, consumer prices decreased by 0.2% from October.

The primary driver of inflation, food costs, grew by 0.8% compared to the previous year, while non-food inflation climbed by 0.7%. Core inflation, which does not include more erratic items like food, increased 2.6% annually and 0.2% monthly.

According to the central bank, inflation is expected to average 1% this year, down from 6.1% last year.

Despite the Al-Haouz earthquake, a spike in inflation, and worldwide economic challenges, Morocco’s GDP grew by 3.4% in 2023.

A recovery in tourism, robust industrial exports, and rising private consumption—all bolstered by prudent macroeconomic policies—were the main drivers of growth.

VenturesNow

Nigeria’s $42bn foreign reserves enough for 9 months’ imports— Central Bank

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the nation’s $42.01 billion in foreign reserves can cover imports of goods and services for almost nine months.

Cardoso promised Nigerians improved economic fortunes in 2025 while addressing the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions yesterday in Abuja at the presentation of the performance index report.

Cardoso stated: “External Reserves rose from $ 38.35 billion it was on September 30, 2024, to $ 42.01 billion as of December 12, 2024”.

He clarified that third-party receipts in Q3 2024 and revenues from taxes connected to crude oil were the main drivers of the rise in foreign reserves during the specified time.

“We saw remarkable improvements in our trade balance and maintained a current account surplus,” he added.

“Our external reserves level can finance over 9.09 months of import of goods and services or 13.91 months only, higher than the international benchmark of 3.0 months and a robust buffer against shocks”.

On cash shortage, the CBN boss reiterated the N150 million fine against any branch of banks caught illegally distributing new Naira notes to currency hawkers and unscrupulous elements and said the Nigerian economy will improve in 2025 through policies and measures.

He predicted a stronger economic future: “Despite our economy’s challenges, there are clear reasons for optimism.

“The gradual stabilization of the forex market, ongoing banking sector recapitalization, and positive growth trends in key sectors, especially the services sector, indicate a path toward recovery and stability.”