Nana Kagga who shot to fame as an actress and engineer. But, Uber drivers probably dont care about celebrities. Last week, Kagga together with her friend were allegedly manhandled and roughed up by unidentified Uber drivers as they left a drinking spot in Industrial Area. The two victims have since reported the case to police and asked other patrons to boycott Uber as choice of taxi.
We reproduce Elizabeth Pamela Acaye, Nana Kagga’s post on social media about the unfortunate event.
On Thursday night, I was attacked in an Uber, a friend of mine Acaye Elizabeth Pamela and I picked up after a night out. Thank you all who have reached out and called me although I have not been able to respond to every one as I recover from the physical damage to my face and body.
To those who use UBER ,please read Acaye’s account of what happened to us on Friday 29th March at Approximately 1:00 am.
The details
We ordered an UBER taxi through Omara Daniel phone from Plot 110 Seventh Street. Immediately we got in, the driver proceeded to turn on a video of Kakande; allegedly performing miracles. I politely asked him to turn it off and replay it when we have exited his taxi. He acted deaf until Nana reiterated the same.
Then, he proceeded to deliberately drive the car at snail speed on a traffic-less morning. I raised my concern. Again, he acted deaf until Nana assured him of her knowledge of their taxis to slow the drive and charge more. He acted irritated and announced that we are not his ideal customers and that he will not continue the ride.
At this point, we are just at the T-junction from Namuwongo that opens immediately on Seventh street. He does not stop. instead, he increases the speed a little bit and deliberately goes and parks the taxi in the alley at the corner that leads into and out of Namuwongo area, a notorious Rape, Murder and Robbery Corner.
I am at this point negotiating with him to kindly return us back to where he picked us up from, less than 300 meters away and end the ride. He is threatening to beat us and do all manner of harm to us at this point. I step out of the car, in time to see him dial a number on his phone. He opens his boot and brings out a sinister looking coiling wire which he starts to brandish. Nana is having none of this and calls to question his alleged love for Christ and joke of an attempt to evangelise us.
Another car , posing as a random taxi cab appears from the Namuwongo area,parks in front of this car. They exchange a quick look. He asks whats going on. I tell him this driver is attempting to hassle us and is now threatening violence. At this point, there is a building confrontation between Nana and this monster. The new driver proceeds to carry Nana towards his car -abduction style. I am at this point backing away from the other monster, a safe distance away, I see nana slouched against this other monsters car tyre. she is muttering ” oh my God, Oh my God! The new monster is stating” How dare you dare to fight me back? You are a woman. How dare you insult me? You are a woman!”(this is verbatim)
Quickly, i go lead Nana away, but he is not finished. Men are starting to gather at this point from the shanty town along the railway line. However, they are silently watching. As if in a trance, simply inching closer to us. The second monster removes a Nkoni from his car. Yes, a nkoni and begins flogging Nana. I step in to intervene between attempts at negotiation. But not in time to prevent this herdsman’s rod from connecting with the side of Nana’s face. She begins to shut down. I heard something pop. She states in that moment that she thinks something has broken in her ear. These monsters immediately enter their cars and speed away.
The Response: According to Daniel, his ride info indicated that we were driving around Bugolobi for more than an hour .Uber, erased the ride from their system when Daniel reported. But he had already documented the ride and phone calls.
The matter is before the police. The very next night, someone close to us was almost attacked in a similar way by another Uber driver. She jumped out of the car in time. Another guy is still hospitalised from an Uber attack.There are many similar reports circulating of being attacked by Uber drivers. Dear Ugandans, let us boycott them until they can guarantee our safety.
