I was punished for leaning against a benz; it became my dream car

Nkuuke says to avoid unnecessary repairs, he does not allow his friends or family to drive his car . PHOTOS BY EDGAR R. BATTE

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Nkuuke’s love for Mercedes was birthed when as a child he was punished for leaning against a neighbour’s Mercedes Benz. He purposed to own one and now shares the highs and lows of his dream ride

Robert Jackson Nkuuke, the chief executive officer of Mutima Entertainment, is fascinated by German cars and recently acquired a Mercedes Benz E55 AMG, 2006 model. The story of fascination started from a rather bizarre incident.
As a boy, he recalls leaning against a neighbour’s Mercedes Benz and because this did not please the neighbour, he slapped him and advised him to always keep a distance from the car.
“At the time, I did not know why he punished me so I became curious about why he treasured his car that much. It was my first motivation to liking Mercedes Benz and I started researching about different models in general,” Nkuuke recounts.
He previously owned a Golf, another Germany car. In his comparison of the two cars, he finds the Mercedes Benz is a superior brand when it comes to comfort, speed, space and elegance.
“Its seats are wider and the cushions kind of clasp your back which further enhances its comfort experience. I like elegance and class and I have found it all in a Benz. I feel I deserve it because I work hard. I have taken time saving for it and acquiring this Benz is one grand way to reward myself,” he explains.

Interior
The E55 Benz has generally received good reviews. Laurance Yap, the creative director at Pfaff Automotive Partners, who have been in business since 1964, describes it as a road-going missile that could seat four in comfort.
“It made an impression on my still-evolving car-testing skills by showing me how composed and comfortable a car could feel while travelling at serious speeds. Driving this car makes you realise how much more accessible automotive technology really is these days. In 2001, for instance, airbags in the doors and roof pillars were not common in anything but luxury cars,” Yap writes.
Speed is one of the traits Nkuuke appreciates about his car. “When I am on the highway, whereas I could not go beyond 220kms/h with the golf, I am able to go up to 260 in the Mercedes Benz,” he says.

Cost
It cost the events entrepreneur close to Shs97m, including the initial booking cost, shipment and Uganda Revenue Authority taxes. He paid $12,000 (about Shs44.7m) to order for it online. “I tried to look for it locally, in car bonds but I did not find it. They had the 180, 220 and 240 classes but not the type I bought. I was finally glad to find the exact model I wanted,” he says.

Fuel consumption
Nkuuke observes that in terms of fuel consumption, it is a guzzler. He spends on average Shs50,000, sometime more, everyday. He says that when he buys fuel of Shs100,000, it will last for two days but he will need to refuel at the end of the second day, depending on the number of errands of the day.
It has an 80-litre fuel tank which fills up at Shs350,000. He has tested in on the highway, on his way to Masaka to visit his parents. On his journey, the experience of driving on some rough roads was unmissable.
“I am careful when driving it. A single shock absorber costs Shs1.6m. To service it, I have to fork out Shs590,000. Its breaks, front and rear, cost me Shs600,000. This is the reason I cannot share or rent out my car,” he says.

Other car dreams
Robert Jackson Nkuuke has his eyes and dreams on acquiring a Range Rover Vogue, some day. “I would like to experience what it feels like to drive the Range Rover Vogue experience. I also have my eyes on a Cross Country so it will either be a Vogue or Cross Country,” he adds.