Ugandans all over social media are advocating foe the boycott of Uber.
The move follows a chilling revelation by artiste Pamella Elizabeth Acaye about a near death encounter with an Uber Driver last Friday.
According to Acaye, she left ‘110 on Seventh’ with fellow actress Nana Kagga in a Toyota Wish driven by a one Joseph.
However, their trip turn unpleasant when halfway the journey, he stopped his car in an abandoned area and decided to attack the girls, who had asked him to turn down Prophet Kakande’s summons on his car stereo.
This after he had called another ‘driver’ who ‘beat Kagga until something popped in her ear’.
They later fled.
Uber meanwhile went ahead and deleted the ride from their app and also claimed that their driver acted in self defence.
With complaints and support coming in quick and fast, social media users took to facebook and twitter to narrate their near death experiences with Uber drivers.
For example, BeckyWithTheGoodHair posted: Last week I had close to such issues with a couple of friends with this rider. I was physically abused I reported to Uber and they did nothing. He touched my thighs and I took offense. He got violent.
Hope Kasedde wrote: I had an issue with an uber driver in bugolobi where he pretended to have car issues and thieves pounced from nowhere. Tukoye
Nabzie @MabelNabz: Is this the safety you speak about when your driver assaults two unarmed women. In a country where women are attacked daily, using the app to get home safely is no nolonger guaranteed. The level of impunity means your other riders can do such without consequences!
Heare is Acaye’s full facebook post:
“Context:
on Friday 29th March at Approximately 1:00 am, and myself ordered an UBER taxi through Omara Daniel Pkwiiyulli phone from 110 0n Seventh.
The number he used to contact Daniel is +256704736839
immediately we got in, the driver proceeded to turn on a video of Kakande; allegedly performing miracles.
I politely asked him to turn it off and replay it when we have exited his taxi. He acted deaf until Nana reiterated the same.
Then, he proceeded to deliberately drive the car at snail speed on a traffic-less morning.
Again, I raised my concern. Again, he acted deaf until Nana assured him of her knowledge of their taxis to slow the drive and charge more.
He acts irritated and announces that we are not his ideal customers and that he will not continue the ride.
At this point, we are just at the T-junction from Namwongo that opens immediately on Seventh Street.
But, he does not stop.
Instead, he increases the speed a little bit and deliberately goes and parks the taxi in that alley at the corner that leads into and out of Namuwongo area.
A notorious Rape, Murder and Robbery Corner.
I am at this point negotiating with him to kindly return us back to where he picked us up from, less than 300 meters away and end the ride.
He is threatening to beat us and do all manner of harm to us at this point.
I step out of the car, in time to see him dial a number on his phone. He opens his boot and brings out a sinister looking coiling wire which he starts to brandish. Nana is having none of this and calls to question his alleged love for Christ and joke of an attempt to evangelise us.
Another car, posing as a random taxi cab appears from the Namwongo area. He parks in front of this car. They exchange a quick look. He asks what’s going on.
I tell him this driver is attempting to hassle us and is now threatening violence. At this point, there is a building confrontation between Nana and this monster. The new driver proceeds to carry Nana towards his car – abduction style.
I am at this point backing away from the other monster, a safe distance away, I see nana slouched against this other monsters car tyre. She is muttering “Oh my God, Oh my God!”
The new monster is stating.
“How dare you fight me back! You are a woman. How dare you insult me! You are a woman!” (This is verbatim)
Quickly, I go lead Nana away, but he is not finished.
Men are starting to gather at this point from the shanty town along the railway line. However, they are silently watching. As if in a trance, simply inching closer to us.
The second monster removes a Nkoni from his car. Yes, a nkoni and begins flogging Nana. I step in to intervene between attempts at negotiation. But not in time to prevent this herdsman’s rod from connecting with the side of Nana’s face.
She begins to shut down. I heard something pop. She states in that moment that she thinks something has broken in her ear. These monsters immediately enter their cars and speed away.
The Response:
According to Daniel, his ride info indicated that we were driving around Bugolobi for more than an hour.
Uber, erased the ride from their system when Daniel reported. But he had already documented the ride and phone calls.
The matter is before the police.
The very next night, someone close to us was almost attacked in a similar way by another Uber driver. She jumped out of the car in time. Another guy is still hospitalised from an Uber attack.
There are many similar reports circulating of being attacked by Uber drivers.
Dear Ugandans, let us boycott them untill they can guarantee our safety.”
After immense pressure online, Uber Uganda twitted a 40 word response that read, “Safety is our top priority and nothing is more important than the safety of our users. Upon learning of this, we immediately began investigating the matter and followed up with the account holder as we take such incidents very seriously.”
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