communal justice

Odd little experience that we had the other day ...

We drove into town with one of the Heritage teachers. He is one of the few brave enough to own a vehicle and drive himself around Kampala roads.

We were in a typical traffic situation, with cars tightly lined up and bodas weaving in and out of traffic. We were at a full stop at one point, and our friend had to reverse. He didn't realize there was a boda driver right behind him (he was probably almost touching the vehicle to begin with!), and when he reversed he bumped the boda. He really only bumped the tire and no damage was done.

The boda driver drove right up beside the driver's window.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry about that," our friend apologized, leaning out of the window.

"Do not say you're sorry!" the boda driver shouted. "Do not say you are sorry! You hit me! You hit me!"

He may have thought it was his lucky day -- being hit by a muzungu!

And this is where the communal justice steps in ...

Other boda drivers who had been idling by, waiting for passengers, had seen the entire situation unfold. Nearby shopkeepers had also been watching. Pedestrians, shopkeepers, boda drivers ... they all weighed in.

"No, no, you are fine. No damage was done," they all said.

The boda driver who had been hit tried again. He wheeled in front of our vehicle and stopped there, trying to force us to stay put so he could have a chance to prove any damage.

"No, no, no." The self-appointed jury would not have it. "No, there is no damage." They waved, dismissing the boda driver's frantic attempts to prove his case. Frustrated, the  boda driver realized his case was closed and drove away. The spectators turned back to our vehicle and declared, "You can go."

And so we went, back en route to the supermarket.