Dream-come-true win for Kampala office assistant

By Stella Nassuna

KAMPALA - Donning a white long-sleeved shirt over coffee-brown trousers, Denis Ogutti walked hurriedly towards the red four-seater Vitz that was the least of his expectations.

Earlier, when he received a phone-call to notify him of his luck, the dark-skinned five-footer had his doubts over whether he was not just being taken for a ride. After-all, many people have attested to receiving fake calls telling them of how they have won this and that.

But this wasn’t one of those deceptive calls.

And as Ogutti, an office assistant, soon discovered – 45 minutes after that mystery call – his prize awaited him right at the main entrance of Nakumatt upper parking yard.

Call it a super surprise or simply a really good one. He was instantly handed the keys to his ‘ride’ – a smooth crimson Toyota Vitz. As he basked in a winner’s moment, there was more spot-light for him to get absorbed into as his face got soaked in a glare of flashlights from restless camera men.

Of course this was not the kind of attention he was used to, so he struggled to confidently relish his triumph, but the smile on his face was clear testimony to a very happy man. Forget about the thoughts of needing fuel to always ‘feed’ the car, or the reality of having to make a number of trips to the local car garage for routine check-ups and servicing.

That was not on Ogutti’s mind at the time of him receiving his gift. What seemed to matter more was that he will not have to pad [read walk] the streets of Kampala anymore!

His phone kept on buzzing as anxious journalists, clasping pens and notebooks, waited to translate his excitement into words.

Have you shared your win with any one yet, one asked him.

"Not yet. I do not just share sensitive information like that.  Even my expectant wife does not know this yet. I do not want to excite anyone for no reason yet,” he answered coolly.

One of Ogutti’s dreams was to buy a car, but since he does not rake in much from his job as an office assistant at the internal affairs ministry, purchasing a car did, indeed, remain a dream.

He may not have realized his dream of buying one, but he has certainly earned himself one by winning it!

Two other participants (Judith Kamugisha & Ronald Turyahbwe) who took part in the two month-long V&A promotion dubbed Win the Wheels of Love and involved purchasing a bottle of V&A at supermarket outlets were also winners.

They each won half-a-million shillings (sh500, 000) each.