RX Radio Presenter Olive Najjuma has today morning expressed her concern towards the exemption of the Presidential vehicle convoy from paying highway road tolls.
This was during The Fatboy Show as Daniel and Olive commented on the Entebbe Expressway tolls to be paid by road users starting January 1 2022.
According to the Minister of Works and Transport General Katumba Wamala, tolls will range from Ugx.3000 to Ugx.18000 depending on the type of motor vehicle. The money collected will then be used to pay back the $350million construction loan from China Exim Bank, and payment of constructors for maintenance and operations of the road.
However, emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire brigades and the presidential convoy will be exempted from the tolls, a topic that sparked a debate on the morning show.
“I don't want to sound political but as a Ugandan, the President is the first citizen of the country, and these being dues- what would he lose from paying this and leading by example? Given that his trips are planned in advance, he could pay yearly. If he went an extra mile to pay his dues, that would warm my heart,” Olive said.
In reference to a conversation she had with a colleague who thought that the President is supposed to be exempted from paying the fees, Olive questioned whether Ugandans have been reduced to a level of not holding leaders accountable when it comes to performing their duties as citizens of the country.
Moreso, Daniel the co-host of the Show added that the exemption may apply to other bigwigs other than the President, just like the right of way on the roads. He further noted that the President will set a strange example to the population since he has the longest convoy of vehicles.
The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy, Olive, Sarah and Lesham every weekday from 6am to 10am on RX Radio.