11:45am
It was a day like no other when my sister and I attempted to make our way to the city center by car but had a stopover in Wandegeya where we parked briefly to wait for an individual for a brief exchange. Without leaving the car my sister met the individual for a brief meeting that took maybe 2 minutes, a taxi driver pulled up next to us to the side and blocked us so we could not pull out of the bus stop area wherewe had parked. Now we had parked behind a car in the parking area and another had quickly pulled up behind us so when her quick meeting was over, we had nowhere to go.
Now every Ugandan knows that our taxi drivers dance
to their own beat so we knew better than to rush the taxi driver but rather to
patiently wait for him to drive away so that we could leave and head into town.
The conductor flung the door open and a passenger briskly jumped out as he passed
on his fare only for a police officer to slither from behind the car parked
ahead of us in front of the taxi barring the driver from speeding off. Please
note that this was not a traffic police man but a normal – police officer who
usually wear the signature green uniforms. We thought this confrontation would
not take much time and we would be well on our way only for a female traffic
police office dressed in trademark white, brandishing an official traffic offence
book ready write a receipt for whatever offence stood beside him opening a leaf
as she engaged the driver.
5 minutes later
We had patiently
waited for this encounter to blow over so that we could be on our way only for
it to carry on for an additional 3 minutes. My sister finally got exasperated
enough for her rebellious streak to come to the surface and she began to hoot
for them to move ahead so that we could drive off.
Sister: “Officer, please allow us to
leave.” (She used her hands to action her displeasure after being patient for a
while but they took no notice of her and continued to disagree over the
offence.)
Police Officer (Ordinary): (After ignoring us for a while) “Allo, madam first wait
we deal with this one here – we are still writing his receipt.”
Traffic Policewoman: “Do not even complain, do you know
your offence? This is not a parking area….ehhh ……officer what……do not call me.”
I was so
amused at how aggressive and humorous the female traffic officer was all at
once.
Conductor: “Officer naye olabye motoka wali mabega, aparkinze bubi naye tobawadde
papula.” (Officer but do you see that
car behind, it is parked badly but you have not given them a receipt.)
Sister: Police Officer: “Deal with him where? Officer you
already have him in your custody so let him move ahead so that I can pass and
you can continue with him on the issue of his offence.”
Police Officer (Ordinary): “Leo……….” (He ranted on in some Swahili gibberish for
about 3 minutes as we both looked at him dumbfounded.)
I almost
looked at myself to make sure that I was not in some sort of army fatigue or
police uniform. Did he think we were one of his buddies from training school? I
know that we come from the Eastern part of Uganda but that does not mean that
all Ugandans or Easterners understand the Swahili language.
Sister: “Eh, officer what are you saying?” (With a frown on her face that clearly
showed her discomfort and bewilderment, I decided to make fun of it and
silently mimic him.)
Police Officer: “You see madam, this is a no parking
area it is for stop overs so that is why we are giving him an offence receipt.”
Sister: “Oh no problem officer, that is exactly
why I stopped over and did not get
out of my car when I got to this bus stop.”
Police Officer: “Yes we also know that it is hard to
find parking in the city so we feel sorry for you and allow you to stop over
here – but not to park.” (As he leaned into her window I guess for better
effect)
Unfortunately
for me in this case, I did not get an opportunity to get a clear view of his
name tag on his uniform and I was not going to get myself in a bind by
attempting to take a picture of him from the front. I did not want my sister’s
car to be impounded or something like that since we were right next to the
Wandegeya Police station. After a couple of minutes and further persuasion from
my sister the receipt was written only for the taxi to be moved forward but the
bargaining continued.
I wondered,
if you have given me a receipt to pay for a fine due to a traffic offence why do
you still continue to engage me and hold conversations after the fact. It
simply means that that fine was not going to be paid or was I mistaken? Either
way this over vigilant pair wasted about 15 minutes of our time so much that we
were now caught up in the midday jam at the traffic lights in addition to the
fact that the taxi was parked in a double parking position further aggravating the
situation.
Only in
Uganda.
3 comments:
heheheheheheeee....era only in Uganda but seriously, our traffic wardens need step up their game. u know, if u're to give some one a ticket, go ahead and do so other than wasting a whole 30 minutes jst tryin to get a bribe from them which you wld have stated from the beginning. and besides i thought this ticket money goes into the city public funds which in turn is put towards a city project or even the police force itself. i say our system needs a revival but until that much needed change is achieved, we shouldn't cease in praying and writing about such matters, coz this might be a means through which our grievances might be heard and probably acted upon.... until then lets not lose hope.
thanx for the updates Jowi, gives me a glimpse of home..... keep up the good work and GOD Bless you.
Indeed only in Uganda!
Ramlah it is something i continue to be amazed about and something that will keep me aware so that i can pay attention to it. So you have no need to worry i will continue to pen down my encounters.
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