The Entebbe-Kampala Expressway, a vital 30-mile highway linking Entebbe International Airport on Lake Victoria to Kampala, has radically improved access to Uganda’s capital city, enhancing Uganda’s tourism growth.
This significant infrastructure project has not only facilitated smoother travel for tourists but has also been a catalyst for the accelerated growth of Uganda’s tourism industry. The expressway facilitates travel for tourists exploring Uganda’s rich natural wonders, stunning scenery and wildlife like the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, famous for its mountain gorillas.
In the first half of 2024, Uganda experienced a 26% increase in international tourist arrivals, surpassing 700,000 visitors, largely due to the expressway’s convenience. Built and maintained by Chinese firms, the expressway operates as Uganda’s first toll road, collecting approximately £600,000 annually from its average of 28,000 vehicles per day.
Completed in 2019, the expressway has been used by over 30 million motorists, significantly boosting the region’s economy and serving as a model for future infrastructure projects, according to Stephen Kitonsa, the acting Engineer-in-Chief of the Ministry of Works and Transport.