Being a muzungu (white person) in Uganda I have encountered all types of corruption from different sources at different levels. I have never paid a bribe and never will. Many times I have been pulled over by the police with the threat of taking me to the court (as a way of getting bribe from me). I would let the police into my car and offer to drive to court together with them. After a few hundred metres driving down the road (by this time the police would have figured out I am not giving him any bribe), he would give me a warning and get out of my car. This has happened more times than I can count. But this recent incident has to be at the top of the list.
On February 13th, I was travelling back from our Bible School in a town called Jinja when I reached some sugar fields at a place called Lugazi. Ahead of me I could see many cars stopped along with the police. The police man flagged me down and flashed a speed gun that showed that I was travelling 85 kph (about 53 mph). I thought I was going slower, because I spotted the cars and police at the side of road in far distance and I had slowed down along ways back to see what was happening as I approached the police. In any case when the police stopped me – he simply told me I was going to court. I followed him to the Lugazi Police station where I was written a court order. When I asked what was happening I was told I was speeding and I was going to court. I then asked the officer if it was not customary procedure for me to get a written citation for speeding. He told me that it was for the offender to request for such a citation. When I asked for a citation he told me it was not possible because I was going 85 kph (about 53 mph) and the speed limit was 50 kph (about 31 mph)keep in mind this is a highway. I was then taken to the Lugazi court and thrown into Jail. At this point I have not been explained by anyone what is happening or been told my rights. When I asked one police woman what the procedure was she responded “We too are big people – you just do as we say” as if I was a big person because I wanted to know what was happening to me. There were two others with me who were also being charged for speeding, one for 85 kph also (interesting huh, makes me wonder if their gun was stuck) the other for going 61 khp. While in the jail, fellow prisoners welcomed me by searching my pockets to see if I had any money or anything that might interest them. By now I am feeling like a common criminal. After about 1½ to 2 hours I appeared in court. We were told by the police to plead guilty or we would stay in prison until our court date. When I appeared in court I was mocked and shamed – the judge seemed to be happy humiliating me. For what? Because I was a criminal that needed to be treated like one. I was fined 450,000 shillings (about $225.00 USD, which for this country is outrageous). The other two that were with me were fined 300,000 and 400,000 (the man who was also doing 85 kph paid 50,000 less than me). By the time I was released at about 4:45 PM (almost four hours later) there were three others who were also being charged for speeding - all had to pay 400,000. There was one other person who had no driving permit/licence and was having to pay 600,000. When I left all but one person had paid, in total that was 2,950,000 million shillings (about $1500.00 USD). This was collected from the drivers pulled in by the police in the afternoon session. Who knows how much money they collected from other drivers in the morning session? Who was the money paid to? To the makeshift court collection office next to the jail. In Uganda because of the corruption, all such monies are to be paid at the bank, and then you take the receipts to the court or police. But not this time. From the moment I was pulled over till the moment I left the jail, I was barely given a chance to say anything or even ask questions, I was to pay or I was to stay in prison. Since my fine was paid at 4:45 PM and it had to be paid before 5:00 PM the word was going around that the muzungu is going to dig the next morning and they were all having a good laugh. I have no problem paying for a speeding citation; in fact I would gladly pay under the due process of the law. One man in jail told me he was embarrassed for the treatment I was being subjected to and said that maybe they should make considerations for foreigners. I don’t agree, everyone should be treated the same, they should be treated with respect and be given the proper due process of the law. Unfortunately this time justice would not prevail. Pray for us and our protection in such situations. Trust me it’s no joke.
On February 13th, I was travelling back from our Bible School in a town called Jinja when I reached some sugar fields at a place called Lugazi. Ahead of me I could see many cars stopped along with the police. The police man flagged me down and flashed a speed gun that showed that I was travelling 85 kph (about 53 mph). I thought I was going slower, because I spotted the cars and police at the side of road in far distance and I had slowed down along ways back to see what was happening as I approached the police. In any case when the police stopped me – he simply told me I was going to court. I followed him to the Lugazi Police station where I was written a court order. When I asked what was happening I was told I was speeding and I was going to court. I then asked the officer if it was not customary procedure for me to get a written citation for speeding. He told me that it was for the offender to request for such a citation. When I asked for a citation he told me it was not possible because I was going 85 kph (about 53 mph) and the speed limit was 50 kph (about 31 mph)keep in mind this is a highway. I was then taken to the Lugazi court and thrown into Jail. At this point I have not been explained by anyone what is happening or been told my rights. When I asked one police woman what the procedure was she responded “We too are big people – you just do as we say” as if I was a big person because I wanted to know what was happening to me. There were two others with me who were also being charged for speeding, one for 85 kph also (interesting huh, makes me wonder if their gun was stuck) the other for going 61 khp. While in the jail, fellow prisoners welcomed me by searching my pockets to see if I had any money or anything that might interest them. By now I am feeling like a common criminal. After about 1½ to 2 hours I appeared in court. We were told by the police to plead guilty or we would stay in prison until our court date. When I appeared in court I was mocked and shamed – the judge seemed to be happy humiliating me. For what? Because I was a criminal that needed to be treated like one. I was fined 450,000 shillings (about $225.00 USD, which for this country is outrageous). The other two that were with me were fined 300,000 and 400,000 (the man who was also doing 85 kph paid 50,000 less than me). By the time I was released at about 4:45 PM (almost four hours later) there were three others who were also being charged for speeding - all had to pay 400,000. There was one other person who had no driving permit/licence and was having to pay 600,000. When I left all but one person had paid, in total that was 2,950,000 million shillings (about $1500.00 USD). This was collected from the drivers pulled in by the police in the afternoon session. Who knows how much money they collected from other drivers in the morning session? Who was the money paid to? To the makeshift court collection office next to the jail. In Uganda because of the corruption, all such monies are to be paid at the bank, and then you take the receipts to the court or police. But not this time. From the moment I was pulled over till the moment I left the jail, I was barely given a chance to say anything or even ask questions, I was to pay or I was to stay in prison. Since my fine was paid at 4:45 PM and it had to be paid before 5:00 PM the word was going around that the muzungu is going to dig the next morning and they were all having a good laugh. I have no problem paying for a speeding citation; in fact I would gladly pay under the due process of the law. One man in jail told me he was embarrassed for the treatment I was being subjected to and said that maybe they should make considerations for foreigners. I don’t agree, everyone should be treated the same, they should be treated with respect and be given the proper due process of the law. Unfortunately this time justice would not prevail. Pray for us and our protection in such situations. Trust me it’s no joke.
