You have not driven a car until you’ve owned a Land Rover

Land Rovers have always had an enduring fan base in Uganda, and just like Subaru and Mercedes-Benz owners, a Land Rover enthusiast will defend his Defender from sun-up to sun-down.

“We normally say, we don’t sell Land Rovers, but we pass them on,” said veteran actor and CBS FM’s Abby Mukiibi, also a passionate Land Rover owner.

Land Rover Defender, a vehicle known for its toughness and reliability, has become a symbol for adventure enthusiasts.

“It’s a car that people can drive for ages and give it to another generation, because whatever generation, the Land Rover still stands out and performs best. I’ve driven the Discovery One, I have a Discovery Two, and I’m soon getting another one, [then] maybe pass this on to somebody else,” Mukiibi said.

Mukiibi said he was introduced to this metallic beast by Owek. Godfrey Kaaya Kavuma (RIP), who sold him his first Land Rover, a Discovery One. Mukiibi notes that Land Rover is not super-fast, but rather itis a car that is steady on the road and reliable in regards to all sorts of terrain.

The reliability and toughness of the Land Rover to traverse any terrain has been tested by Maureen Agena and Edward Echwalu, who told DW TV in a documentary titled ‘How Ugandans Reclaimed the Land Rover’ that their 1998 Land Rover Defender covered more than 20,000km in six months, travelling from Uganda to Southern Africa and back, with their vehicle conquering extreme desert heat in Namibia and wet rugged terrain of the tropics.

Despite more modern variants entering the Ugandan market such as the newer Defender 130, and other models like the Discovery and Discovery Sport, a number of Ugandans have reclaimed the classic Defender 110 and 90 models for their superior reliability and strength, especially when tackling the toughest terrains or towing other vehicles.

A VEHICLE BUILT FOR THE JOB

Speaking to Lugolobi Meddy, a proud driver of a 1976 Land Rover tow truck series III model 109 in Wandegeya, he said he has owned the Land Rover for five years, although it has been in operation since the Idi Amin era of the 1970s when it was first deployed as a farm truck.

“Land Rover is a reliable and strong vehicle, many cars can’t compare with it. Its four-wheel drive outpaces the popular Toyota Dyna tow trucks when faced with a slippery road. Even in situations when the car has got a mechanical issue, the car can still move for a few more kilometers, and it can tow any vehicle you throw at it,” Lugolobi said.

HISTORY OF RESILIENCE

The Land Rover dates back to 1947 Britain, after the end of the Second World War, when the chief designer of the Rover Company, Maurice Wilks, envisioned creating a vehicle that could serve both agricultural and utility purposes.

Wilks’ inspiration for the Land Rover was based on the rugged US military Willys Jeep, and the prototype was built on a Jeep car chassis using the Rover company components, and the design featured a centrally mounted steering, with the design prioritizing simplicity and off- road capability, with an aluminium alloy body and sturdy box-section ladder frame chassis.

The first Land Rover was officially launched on April 30, 1948, at the Amsterdam motor show, becoming an immediate success and a staple for farmers and armies around the world.

ARRIVAL IN UGANDA

According to DW TV, the Land Rover was introduced during the British colonial rule and was seen as a symbol of British authority and colonial power. Notably, the first Land Rover model that was introduced in Uganda was the Land Rover II (S2A), as per an article published in the Daily Monitor, which was brought into Uganda in the late 1960s and was initially brought into Uganda as a tourist vehicle by Mantana Safaris.

This model was known for its durability and versatility, and it was used by the British colonial government and later by the Ugandan military and other government agencies from the early 1970s through the late 1980s.

This was followed by Series II and III, which became common in Uganda from the 1970s to the early 1980s, and these vehicles were valued for their durability and off- road capability, which made them suitable for Uganda’s mostly murram and rugged terrain.

In the 1970s, however, Land Rovers were seen as a symbol of oppression and terror during the presidency of Idi Amin, as brutal security branches such as the State Research Bureau used them as their vehicle of choice, just like the ‘drone’ is today.

Following Idi Amin’s overthrow, the Land Rover remained a favoured vehicle for the military and government officials; even in 1986 when President Yoweri Museveni came to power, the Land Rover was used to inspect troops during parades, among other occasions.

LAND ROVER UGANDA CLUB

Ronnie Kyazze, the Chairperson of the Land Rover Club, praises the vehicle’s durability and functionality—qualities showcased in the Camel Trophy competitions held from 1980 to 2005.

He highlights the ruggedness of models like the 200 and 300Tdi, which are trusted by local mechanics for their dependable engines, with the 200Tdi often referred to as “kabaawo” due to its robust construction.

Kyazze recalls using his first Land Rover Discovery on a trip to his village with his father. When they encountered a truck that had blocked the road, causing a jam, his Land Rover was able to completely go off- road to bypass the scene.

“I remember my dad holding onto everything in the car. I told him, this car will go through. I was calm, but excited. I knew it would pass. And it did. After we [emerged from the garden], other vehicles followed the [beaten] path,” Kyazze said.

He continues to love his Defender 110 with a 200 TDI engine, which has taken him on long-distance trips to Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In 2015, Kyazze and fellow Land Rover enthusiasts Simon Kaheru, Hussein Kashillingi, Marx Rukundo, the late Kampikaho Anthony and Richard Maitum formed the Land Rover Club, forming an Executive Committee to run the club.

The club has helped members find specialized mechanics for these vintage machines and facilitated access to spare parts in addition to different activities, partnerships and CSR activities. Kyazze describes the new Defender as the most capable Land Rover that the Company has ever produced.

WHAT MECHANICS SAY

Haroon Kakembo, a Land Rover Defender 110 owner and mechanic with Hasa Automotive, says his love for the Land Rover was natured by his father Abdul Ssenga who is a veteran Land Rover mechanic and collector.

During his school holidays he worked alongside his father, which sparked his strong interest in the vehicle’s mechanics. Though he attained a degree in software engineering and worked a bit in the corporate world, he always dedicated his days off and weekends to fixing Land Rovers.

Currently, he specializes in fixing a range of Land Rover models including the Defenders (9O and 110 models), Discovery, Freelander and Range Rovers. His mechanical expertise also includes restoring and modifying older Defenders.

Haroon advises owners to service their Land Rovers every 5,000 to 6,000 kilometers, to get the best performance out of them.

Sharing his perspectives about the newer Land Rover Defender models, Haroon said: “I would say the older Defender looks more rugged than the new Defender which comes with the latest technology.”

Haroon sees the newer Defender as too reliant on complex electronics, which could lead to more problems over time, and they require specialized diagnostic tools when fixing; in contrast, the older ones are mechanical, simple, and easier to fix, especially in remote or off-road conditions.

He acknowledged the comfortable aesthetics that the new Defender offers, such as the comfortable heated seats and other technological advancements, but in terms of driving off road, the defender 110 and 90 are still kings.

Hamza Ssenga a mechanic with Hasa Automotive said spare parts of the Land Rover models are procured from the UK and China. Hamza says outside the Land Rover family, the car he would recommend that comes close to the vintage British cars is the Toyota Hilux, because it is more affordable, more fixable and can match the reliability and ruggedness of the Land Rover.

LAND ROVER THROUGH THE YEARS:

• Series I(1948): Permanent four-wheel drive and agricultural functionality with a utilitarian design.

• Series II (1958–1961): Improved engine performance and a refined body style.

• Series IIA (1961–1971): Introduced the 2.25-litre diesel and 2.6-litre six-cylinder petrol engines for long wheelbase models.

• Series III (1971–1985): Mechanical and comfort enhancements. • Defender (1983–2016): An evolution of the Series III. The name ‘Defender’ was officially adopted in 1990.

It featured permanent 4WD, an improved chassis, and numerous body styles and configurations, cementing its legendary off-road reputation.