Ford Mondeo, the car that defines Kasujja’s class
Kasujja says he has managed to keep his car in good condition because he does not allow anyone else to drive it. PHOTO BY ISMAEL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
Although Titus Kasujja has owned his Ford Mondeo since 2011, it is still in good condition. The reason for this longevity? It is not a car to drive anywhere or all the time, he says.
Japanese made cars dominate Uganda’s roads primarily because they are easy on the pocket. Seeing a Subaru Forester, Toyota Wish, Harrier, Premio, Corolla Spacio, Land Cruiser Prado, Rav4 and the Hiace vans, which dominate the city routes, is a daily routine. Yet for some people, European cars steal their hearts.
Titus Kasujja, who has lived in Denmark for more than three decades, has driven the Renault, Benz and Ford cars all his life.
But one car stands out, the Ford Mondeo which he has owned for about eight years. Kasujja has a clear love of bespoke luxury brands, predominantly from Europe. “I have always loved cars. I love class and love to be recognised,” Kasujja says of his 2008-make Mondeo, which he bought in 2011 for $5,000 (about Shs18.2m).
It is a rare car, and although it remains unknown, he says he has previously seen one car of that type and had to stop and say hi to the owner whom he bumped into on Jinja Road.
“I mind about comfort a lot. Why wouldn’t I buy a good car that satisfies me?” he says as he shows off his car at his home in Ntinda.
Class apart
A commercial dairy farmer, who owns a 400-acre farm in Gayaza, Kasujja prefers to drive his vans, also of European make, yet when going out, the Mondeo and his wife are the only perfect companions. His love for the Mondeo is underpinned by his long stay in Denmark rather than snobbery.
“In Europe, certain standards are set and when you buy a car there, you are guaranteed a high degree of safety. This Mondeo moreover is the best in the class of its own because it is strong enough yet runs up to 240km/hr,” he says.
His choice for the Mondeo is specifically about the speed pilot and parrot system. Combining music and telephone tools, the parrot system is a Bluetooth hands-free kit that lets one drive without a hustle. It ensures safety as the driver can speak on the phone through the music system. The speed pilot, an automated effect, allows constant speed on highways, a thing Kasujja thinks makes travelling fun.
Tips
Yet such brands struggle to muscle into the Ugandan market with most users complaining about high maintenance costs and tasking fuel consumption. “You cannot just appear from nowhere and own a European car,” Kasujja cautions.
“But it takes planning if you are going to enjoy such a car,” he adds. Kasujja tips one to buy spare parts online straight from dealers.
“Dealers around town tend to make a killing off such cars. You need to order parts online and you will save a lot yet they will be genuine,” he says.
He also tips that such a car is not one you drive every day. “Most of our roads are not ideal so I pick out my car if I must step out in style.
