Uganda restricts heavy trucks on Kampala-Entebbe Expressway

The Ugandan government has announced a temporary ban on heavy commercial trucks weighing 7,500 kilograms or more from using the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, effective August 31, 2026. The Ministry of Works and Transport stated the measure is intended to protect the expressway’s infrastructure, including bridges, toll plazas, and ramps, while the government completes the installation of weighing and load-verification facilities. Emergency vehicles are exempt from this restriction.

In a separate but related enforcement effort, the Ministry of Works and Transport and Traffic Police have launched the “Ganyegenya” operation. This 100-day campaign targets public service vehicles in dangerous mechanical condition, specifically focusing on aging 14-seater taxis in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. On the first day of the operation, police impounded 178 vehicles.

The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has expressed support for removing unsafe vehicles but warned that the crackdown could lead to a transport crisis and increased costs for commuters. The UPC has called for a broader national transport plan that includes coordinating road, rail, and water transport, as well as the deployment of institutional buses to mitigate shortages during the enforcement period.