The hustles of travellers and time-wasting in taxis on the Kampala-Entebbe route have come to an end. As shuttles transport travellers, they anticipate that their journey will conclude in less than an hour. Chauffeurs aim to complete their journey within 30 minutes.
Herbert Byaruhanga, a birder and tour operator, says the reduction in the time will help to “grow business tourism because there are many meetings taking place in the two cities”.
The main reason for reduced time is opening of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway as an alternative route for people who do not wish to be affected by traffic congestion.
“The reduced time of travel is creating a better image for the two cities. Business people do not want any delays,” says Byaruahanga.
He says that tour operators are no longer trapped in Kampala-Entebbe congestion as they move to the western tourism circuit through Busega. He points out that the country should construct more highways to speed up movement and economic growth.
As drivers speed along the roads that crisscross through parts of Kampala and Wakiso, they give the impression that the modernity of super highways has come to their homeland. The new road connects Kampala to Entebbe International Airport.
Domestic tourists celebrating
As international tourists avoid the congestion through the Entebbe Expressway, domestic tourists and transporters of travellers including beach goers in Entebbe are also celebrating.
“My name is Timothy Oloka, a driver under the Fly Express Travellers Association.” This marked the start of our conversation, as the driver got into his cabin and the shuttle kicked into life. “Gone are the days when we would get trapped in congestion and spend hours of frustration trying to reach our destinations. The shortest time is now 30 minutes, and the longest is 40 minutes.”
Oloka says that they have also brought sanity into the transport sector for those plying the Kampala-Entebbe route, adding that customer care and getting passengers safely to their destinations are paramount. “We have courteous people who are also trustworthy, which has helped us steal business from other operators.”
What he was saying resonated well with one of my neighbours in the co-driver’s seat. “I can’t stand abusive taxi drivers who do not respect their clients. They will insult you and instruct you to exit their vehicle before the agreed-upon time or place.”
The 35-kilometre journey was increasingly becoming tricky to negotiate as more people poured into settlements between Kampala and Entebbe. This is also home to Entebbe International Airport, which is the main gateway into Uganda by air. Entebbe also has the longest beach line closest to Kampala and a gateway into the 84 islands of Kalangala in Lake Victoria.
The game changer, according to Peter Kaggwa, who is the spokesperson for the drivers under the Entebbe Expressway, has been the construction of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.
The Kampala-Entebbe Expressway features two lanes in each direction and consists of two road sections: a 36.94 km-long section and a 12.68 km-long link road.
Kaggwa says that he has been in the taxi business for decades, and that time consciousness has created a breakthrough for his team. “We started with one shuttle, which I thought would conduct tours and travel, but discovered I was leaving a lot of business at home,” he says. “I did a market survey and discovered that people plying the Kampala-Entebbe route needed to save time.”
He continued: “What you need to do is avoid many stopovers, and sometimes we even start the journey before a taxi is full.” But because we have created a brand, we do not have to wait for long to get full.”
Kaggwa says patience pays, and this, together with hard work, is helping them to get handsome returns. “We have conquered Entebbe, and many cities, including Gulu; have been calling us to reorganise the transport sector,” says Kaggwa. “It is one step at a time, and hopefully we shall get there one day.”
The ordinary taxis still ply the old Kampala-Entebbe route and charge about $1 (US Dollar) and the Kampala-Expressway charge about $1.5 (US Dollars) for every passenger. The Kampala-Expressway park at Railways Grounds in Kampala and Entebbe City near Total. Tour operators and special-hire taxis charge premium fees for the ride between Entebbe and Kampala.
The Interchange at Sentema along Kampala – Northern Bypass project has been designed to offer additional & improved drainage along Lubigi Swamp.
Box culverts are short-span bridges over highways and a solution to the menacing drainage challenges. They offer adequate flow capacity for stormwater and this is being implemented on the Kampala Northern Bypass project around the Lubigi wetland.
It’s important to add that in the implementation of our programmes, it’s essential to preserve and protect our eco systems and not damage them. They’re are the lifeline of our very existence on planet earth. They breath life into us.
