With Shova Mike’s completion of his 18th Absa Cape Epic (one of the toughest ever that will be talked about for years to come) and with visas for South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt now in hand, the expedition team all reunite in Entebbe. We’re hosted by the GM of the Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe, Cymon Charnley (a delightful character with a great sense of humour), who also organises a grand get-together with the Land Rover Club of Uganda.
What a send-off! And a reminder once again of the camaraderie and solidarity around the iconic Land Rover brand. It all happens at the very jolly Entebbe Sailing Club on the shoreline of Lake Victoria. A long line of colourful old Defenders greet us with nicknames like Trojan 1, Beast, The Loyal Knight, Roxy, Ocece (the dusty one), Pheonix and Smoking Gun, and their equally colourful owners. Ronnie Kyazze the Chairman gives us honorary membership and we’re presented with Defender Transcontinental Expedition bush hats, a framed certificate and expedition-branded travel mugs! We share stories and listen to their comments like, ‘Even though I slow up others in the traffic, I love the fact that I still get waves. – Ugandans love these old Landies’; ‘I take mine everywhere, even into the Congo’; and ‘We love them, especially the old Tdi’s – the growl of that dependable old 300 Tdi engine and the smell of hot oil.’
Gifeon adds that Uganda has a rich history of Land Rovers dating back to the British time and the Club is keeping that history alive. ‘When the mud is thick in the north-east and others fail, she always gets me through,’ says Moses. We agree; after all, the ‘Heart of Land Rover’ belongs here in Africa.
The gang are fascinated by our new Defenders and the equipment. Up go the AluCab roof tents and the big awnings are a hit. The Club members all message the Expedition’s Scroll of Peace and Goodwill and there’s huge appreciation for the humanitarian work that this 30,000Km, 30-country Land Rover journey is linked to. As always, there’s lots of banter: will these new models be as good as their trusty old steeds?? We explain where they’ve already been and that there’s already loads of very tough kilometres on the clock.
A cool wind blows off Africa’s largest lake and once again, we’re touched by the friendliness of the Ugandans. Now it’s time to head north to South Sudan. Thanks again Cymon, our friends at Wild Frontiers and the Boma, and the team at Nile River Explorers for helping to make our passage through Uganda such a grand adventure, and one that, thanks to the Land Rover Club, adds a further 360 years of rich history to the expedition’s ‘Landy Register’ – as always it’s a team effort. Will keep you posted.
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Written by : Ronnie Kyazze
Founder and Chairman of the Land Rover Uganda Club, I bring a strong technical edge to my roles within rugby, contributing to the game's organisation, integrity, and growth. A qualified IT Professional and Road Safety Ambassador, I combine structure and precision with a passion for rugby, motorsport and travel. I’m driven by curiosity, always eager to explore, and a passionate writer at heart.
