“It’s the only place like it on the continent!” –Mick Farmer, Instructor.

In the second half of this year (2003) OnCourse developed a new training centre 5km off the Entebbe road at the Kitende turn off. The driving facility has been designed to mirror hazards /obstacles from this region in a compendious method to optimise practice time and ensure effective confidence building.

The facility boasts a large 4wd High-Range driving track with real-life road hazards, including a crown cambered “straight”, culvert crossings, negative and positive cambered corners, and a section of black-cotton soil that becomes the skid control area when wet. The track also has built-in alternative routes that come into their own for escape and evasion techniques for the security training courses. Again, real-life has been simulated with the layout of the track to allow effective reproduction of car-jacking and ambush scenarios.

The Low Range section now hosts a larger moguls section to develop wheel printing techniques as well as the usual ups and downs. For those of you that know the course a larger Sudan Pothole is going in (to be finished by the end of January 2004) and the Congo Highway (a long stretch of muddy moguls) is longer and a little more difficult to get through!

With an abundance of mud and water at hand the Self-Recovery area speaks for itself. If you do decide to take this course – a change of clothes and footwear may be necessary!

A larger and more comfortable training classroom has been built whilst still maintaining a “bush” feel. On the way in is some new training aid equipment, so, we will be able to deliver high tech instruction in a low-tech environment!

The first quarter of 2004 will bring in the new basic maintenance training area. A more comfortable working and demonstration area will help make this already effective course an even more enjoyable learning experience.