I bought this ‘cool’ car at Shs91,000

Faisal Kiwewa poses next to his car. Photo by Edgar R. Batte

What you need to know:

He told Edgar R. Batte about a car he bought at $27 (about Shs91,000)

Faisal Kiwewa is director of Bayimba International Festival of the Arts. He has since taken on directing of Amakula International Film Festival and Doadoa.

When and how did you buy it?
I first saw such a car with Bruno Ruganzu and I thought it is a cool car. So, I asked him where he bought it. He sent me a link. I ordered for a similar one the next day.
How much did you buy it?
$27. As an arts manager, we do not earn a lot. It really fit my earning.

Why do you think it attracted such a low price?
I am not sure, but I think the makers and sellers thought of us, the low-income earners (laughs)

How much did you pay in URA taxes?
It is a five-door category. According to the URA taxation policy, it cost me $1,500 (about Shs5m at current exchange rate).

Why did you choose this particular car?
First of all, it was cheap. It is small enough to manage the Kampala traffic and strong enough to take me around the country. I drove it to Bundibugyo and back in one day.

How many people can it comfortably carry?
It sits five persons, if they all have the same weight like me, that is 59 and half kilos (laughs)

What is its speed limit?
180 kilometres per hour

What is the funniest comment you have heard while driving?
‘Oh my God! That is a cool car, can I buy it?’ mostly from women.

What do you think of Ugandan drivers?
I am one of them. We are bad drivers; the worst are those with government cars. They seem to think they have the rights on the road. I don’t blame them though, they just use the cars, they don’t pay for them.

How do Ugandan drivers compare with those from other countries?
I have seen some of the scariest drivers in countries that I do not even imagine driving at all—Egypt and Sudan are some of them.

What is a good driving experience for you?
I am not an expert when it comes to driving but I know it is best one learns defensive driving. It is beyond learning how to manoeuvre in traffic.

What is been your worst road experience?
I have had some serious life threatening accidents but the worst was when the President’s convoy knocked me and my family off the road without me posing any threat to them. I almost rolled into a deep trench.

What is the furthest you have driven?
To Bundibugyo and back in a day

Does it have a nickname?
Yes, Him. It is a short form of my son’s name Fahim

Do you wash it?
Once a week and it takes four and half minutes

What is the fastest you have done?
I am not very fast on the road. It is dangerous. I drive at a maximum of 100 kph if I am heading out of town, many times to the airport.

Has it had some mechanical issues?
Yes, I crashed the gear box once when I was driving to Mbale. I left it on the road between Jinja and Iganga and my mechanic came with a new gear box.

How easy or hard is it getting the spare parts locally?
You can get pretty much everything it needs from Kiseka market.

Do you have to deal with bullies on the road?
I have never had a problem. Many folks love it when they see it. Sometimes, they let me pass which is pretty cool

Can you fix anything on your car?
Yes, though not sure of the lights yet