I love big cars

G-Snake in her Land Cruiser. She likes big cars because they earn her respect. PHOTO BY Edgar R Batte

What you need to know:

She is an artiste whose signature brand is holding out a snake as she performs. That earned her the stage name G-Snake but her real name is Sarah Namukwaya. She spoke to Edgar R Batte about her car.

What type of car do you drive?
I drive a VX Land Cruiser

How much did you buy it?
I bought it at Shs150m

That is a lot of money. How did you get it?
I got it from my efforts as an artiste and from the other private businesses I run.

Are you comfortable telling us about your other business engagements?
I have a number of rentals.

What did you specifically like about the Land Cruiser?
It is big enough. I am not a fan of small cars. Small cars are not that comfortable and put me on tension while I am on the steering wheel. I like the Land Cruiser because it is spacious and gives me peace of mind while I am driving on the road.

What do you like about its interior?
It is comfortable. When I sit in it, I feel I am in a car that earns me respect as a woman. I like the fact that its seats are soft and comfortable.
I also like that there is enough space for my legs and I can freely interact with whoever I am travelling with. There are also screens from which I can watch music videos or listen to music while I travel.

How is its fuel consumption like?
It depends on where I would be travelling for the day. I sometimes travel less or more, depending on my day’s schedule. In Kampala, I will fuel it with Shs80,000 but I averagely, use fuel worth Shs50,000 for town runs.

Which other cars have you driven before or have, apart from the Land Cruiser?
I have driven and also own a Land Rover. I have driven a Lexus, Rav4 and a Harrier, though I don’t own them. Some of these are my friend’s cars.

Apart from comfort, what else would you look out for in a car?
I like cars with soft steering wheels so that I do not have to use a lot of effort or energy when engaging gears or making turns while on the road.

You currently drive an automatic car, have you driven a manual car before?
Yes, in fact I learnt how to drive using a manual but with the traffic jam and bad roads in Kampala, I opted for automatic cars. Manual cars require you to change and engage gears all the time, which is quite tiring. It also tires my hands and legs.
What is your dream car?
I have not thought about my dream car. The most important thing for me is getting a good and big car. I think I am driving my dream car.

Which is the longest journey you have driven so far?
I have driven from Kampala to Malaba, at the Ugandan border with Kenya.

How much fuel did you spend on the journey?
I fuelled the car with Shs300,000 when I was setting off. On my return journey, I added Shs100,000

Does your car have a nickname?
Oh no. It is a Land Cruiser forever.

You are a relatively petite woman who drives a big car, what have your fans or the public said to you when they see you behind the wheel?
Everyone has their choice and I chose to drive a big car.
I do not know if I scare people but I think they feel happy seeing me drive.