Motorists using the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway could soon have a new way of paying road tolls after successful tests of mobile-money payments at designated toll lanes.

The Ministry of Works and Transport says preparations to introduce mobile-money payments on the expressway are progressing well, following test runs conducted this week.

According to the Ministry, transactions during the trials were completed in under a minute, demonstrating the potential for motorists to make payments and proceed with minimal delays.

The planned service is expected to operate through designated toll lanes. The Ministry has not yet announced a specific date for the full rollout or indicated that mobile-money payments are already available at all toll lanes.

The initiative follows guidance from the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, as government moves to expand convenient electronic payment options for users of the expressway.

The development would add to the electronic payment system already used on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.

Motorists currently use Upesi electronic toll cards to pay at the toll plazas. The Kampala-Entebbe Expressway operator lists Busega, Kajjansi and Mpala among the toll stations where motorists can access and use the electronic payment system.

Mobile money is already connected to the Upesi system, but in a different way. Motorists can use services including MTN MoMo and Airtel Money to top up their Upesi cards before travelling through the toll points.

Stanbic FlexiPay is also listed as a channel for topping up Upesi toll cards.

The distinction is important because the latest development concerns direct mobile-money payments at designated toll lanes, rather than simply using mobile money to load an Upesi card.

If fully rolled out, the new system could make toll payment more convenient for motorists who prefer to use their mobile phones for everyday transactions. It could also reduce reliance on cash at toll points and potentially shorten the time motorists spend completing payments.

The Kampala-Entebbe Expressway connects Kampala to Entebbe International Airport and is one of Uganda's major tolled roads. Tolling operations began in January 2022, with motorists given both cash and electronic payment options.

The current toll charges depend on the type of vehicle. Motorcycles above 400cc are charged Shs3,000 per trip, while light vehicles pay Shs5,000. Medium goods vehicles with two or three axles pay Shs10,000, while large goods vehicles and buses with four or five axles pay Shs15,000. Vehicles with six or more axles are charged Shs18,000 per trip.

The existing Upesi system was introduced to make toll collection faster by allowing motorists to pay electronically instead of handling cash at the toll booth.

The introduction of direct mobile-money payments would represent another step in the digitisation of toll collection on the expressway, particularly for motorists who may not have an Upesi card.

However, motorists will need to wait for official communication from the Ministry or the expressway operator on when the new payment option will become operational, which mobile-money services will be supported and which specific toll lanes will be designated for the service.

For now, the Ministry's latest update confirms that the system has undergone successful tests, with transactions taking less than a minute, but the full rollout is still in preparation.