A Land Rover weekend in wilderness
A Land Rovers car maneuvers through the busy during the Oguzulu Resort and Campsite. Courtesy photo.
What you need to know:
- Owning a Land Rover is a headache because in most cases mechanics are few and parts are even rare. As an owner, it is really frustrating because the mechanics I was using were really fake, which had forced me to sell my car for as low as Shs5m.
- “For starters owning a Land Rover is a headache in itself because in most cases mechanics are few and spare parts are even rare. As an owner, it was really frustrating because the mechanics I was using were really fake. I nearly sold mine for [as low as] Shs5m,” he says, adding, it is Ronnie (Kyazze) who saved the day after he introduced him to the Land Rover Club of Uganda.
On a chilly Friday morning Land Rover engines roar into a parking lot outside Namboole Stadium to prepare for a long weekend.
This is the start of the more than 50 kilometre journey that snakes into Mukono to Katosi Town before connecting to Oguzulu Resort and Campsite, a lake side resort off Lake Victoria.
The journey is a blend of fun and a show of power as a stretch of Land Rovers, under the Land Rover Club of Uganda, drive east of Kampala through different towns for a getaway camp in Katosi.
The club, according to Ronnie Kyazze, the chairman and chief mobiliser was formed about four years as a social gathering for Land Rover owners and enthusiasts.
“We [as Land Rover owners and enthusiasts] already had a connection with some of the current members and as time went on we thought it right to form something such as an association that would bring us together,” he says.
Journey in wilderness
The journey to Oguzulu Resort and Campsite, which started at exactly 2pm on January 26 stretched through the weekend to January 29.
The three days where dedicated to family with events such as onsite camping, nature walks, boat riding, fishing and bird watching.
Apart from that, there were onsite demonstration of the power of the Land Rover brand and a boat ride to Ngamba Island.
According to Kyazze, the terrain and nature of Oguzulu Resort and Campsite, provides a perfect place to display the power of the Land Rover.
The campsite provides a panoramic view of Lake Victoria that breathes life into the bush thicket and forested space that stretches to the beachside.
The narrow and muddy roads provide a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the strength and agility of the Land Rover.
During the campsite, food and drinks were also served in plenty and members had an opportunity to interact and dance the away night.
Apart from such social gatherings, the club also provides owners an opportunity to meet the best mechanics as well as sharing experiences.
According to Anthony Kampikaho, the Land Rover Club of Uganda secretary, before I was introduced to the club, I was nearly selling my car.
“For starters owning a Land Rover is a headache in itself because in most cases mechanics are few and spare parts are even rare. As an owner, it was really frustrating because the mechanics I was using were really fake. I nearly sold mine for [as low as] Shs5m,” he says, adding, it is Ronnie (Kyazze) who saved the day after he introduced him to the Land Rover Club of Uganda.
At the club, Kampikaho says, he has not only made friends, but has met the best of Land Rover mechanics, which has made driving a Land Rover a great experience.
The club is also involved in a number of other community activities such as planting trees and road safety.
Upcoming event
This month - February 17 – Land Rover Club of Uganda will launch the Road Safety Awareness Initiative, key among which will seek to promote safe driving.
On the same day another activity – the Club Spanner Day – will be held in Kyanja to help owners understand their cars.
The day involves technical bits through which valuable information and experiences are shared with members.
It brings together Land Rover enthusiasts, expert and specialised mechanics, vehicle and equipment suppliers.
The day seeks to make technical jargon easy as well as teaching drivers the simple “do it yourself” stuff.
“If want to have a chat or learn something about Land Rover. Even if you are just thinking of embarking on a Land Rover project or you just want to look at Land Rovers, just come along,” says Kyazze.
Jaguar Land Rover has been busy releasing new brands since merger
Ever since Jaguar and Land Rover merged to form Jaguar Land Rover, the company has been in overdrive producing and modifying some of the world’s renowned car brands.
Such cars include the iconic Defender, which was launched early this year and the Land Rover Discovery, which came back on the market with more modifications last year.
The all-new Land Rover Discovery hit showrooms across sub-Sahara Africa in July last year with media personalities given an to experience the car’s features and capabilities in South Africa.
Jaguar Land Rover has invested heavily since 2011 and has since produced some of the world’s best automobile brands such as Range Rover Evoque.
The company is known for some of its high-end cars that have high performance engines.
Member’s experience
Owning a Land Rover is a headache because in most cases mechanics are few and parts are even rare. As an owner, it is really frustrating because the mechanics I was using were really fake, which had forced me to sell my car for as low as Shs5m.
Somehow I met Ronnie [Kyazze] who introduced me to the little world of Land Rover owners with the same problems.
So we decided to form a club, get enthusiasts and owners together on a level where we know which mechanic is good at what, which good Land Rover is on sell and so on. Yes it [Land Rover Club of Uganda] has greately helped me because I share experiences with like-minded people and support is never far.
Anthony Kampikaho, secretary, Land Rover Club of Uganda
