Kampala Entrepreneur’s First Drive: Crashing into Soldier on Toyota Spacio

Joseph Okidi, who runs a printing business on Nkrumah Road in Kampala, splurged Shs11m on his debut vehicle—a Toyota Spacio—instead of opting for something cheaper. The purchase solved family travel woes, especially to church, though he had eyed a Mercedes originally.

He enrolled in driving school but quit after four days due to rude instructors. Instead, his brother and friends guided him informally as he built road confidence.

The car, nicknamed ‘Posh’ for its pristine look, proved reliable with minimal repair costs beyond routine maintenance like tire changes and oil swaps. It handled business deliveries and seated seven comfortably.

One unforgettable incident occurred on Entebbe Road from Kitende. With his wife and kids aboard, Okidi’s side mirror clipped a soldier on a boda boda, hurling him into a drain. Traffic police swarmed, but after dropping off his family, the forgiving soldier settled for Shs50,000, sparing bigger trouble.

Okidi’s patient driving shone amid Kampala’s erratic pedestrians and speedy bodas, earning him the Luganda moniker ‘Musomesa’—the careful reader of rules. A taxi conductor once pranked him by banging on the car, spiking his panic.

Friends scratched it occasionally, unlike his meticulous care. Minor clutch fixes were its only hiccups. He grew deeply attached before parting with it for personal reasons and still cherishes its fuel-efficient 1.5L engine.

Toyota Spacio Highlights: Compact MPV with 1.5L petrol engine, seats seven, easy to maneuver in traffic, reliable maintenance.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)