It was just after we had concluded our adventurous community research about the revamp of fish in Lake Victoria and the work of the military in the fight against over fishing using Kasensero landing site as the sample area with Alec Jacobson a younger National Geographical explorer that I decided to content write about Wandegeya Shell-Kubirri in response to google notification about the place.
I have a part time job at #AlshamoudInteriorDesigners in Wandegeya and this shell is just our immediate front eye sight.
The day I discovered that I can make a change and help other people in making informed choices about different areas, my love to move from one level to another became so less risk mindful. I was ever ready to take a risk as long as I get the photos I want, write content and upload to google maps to earn points and likely be known and appreciated by the giant search engine.
During the next days after Alec had set back to USA, I put down a few content about the place and the points I earned blind folded me to take photos for they are more rewarding than just content.
Angling myself from the furniture show room, I put to use my Techno Camon CM competitive advantage. With that I got the street view of the station about 2-3 wow pictures. The points I earned wilded me to premonise what beauty could the shell display when it gets dark.
At around 8Pm, I set my eyes on the shell and it really gave nice symptoms that taking pictures if the night will be a more beautiful and rewarding venture and so harried closing up the show room.
At around 9pm, I had already grabbed my #TechnoCameraPhone as the best tool of the night. I went accross to camera the station.
Its true, the station had looked really beautiful clothed in its red, white and yellow wears with the non stop brightly shinning lights. I was prompted to put my phone to workThe station was clad in its white, red and irresistibly magnificent yellow wears that were assisted by the heavily brightening lights.
No sooner had I took 2-3 pictures, than a reckless security guard mounted on me from slightly no where. He forcefuly pushed me down at the walk way of the station. He slapped me so hard and kick me through the rib side. He placed my head so hard with his boot on the ground. I was at that time fully soaked in shock and fear. He then grabbed my phone. He pulled out his and shouted guards come he has been plotting a robbery at our station.
About other five guards darted their way where I was. They said I do deserve to be there with them saying that my case was extreme. For all that time I had said nothing at all. Nothing, not even my asking for my rights, not even complaining about my rights abuse but there is one thing I asked for. That was my phone. I love my phone and I really love it so someone raking possession over it without my yes was indeed a hard feeling for me.
One of the guards asked me for my name and I said am Baker and when he asked me for what my work is I said am a student and a google local guide. The other ignorant on me questions not even any Google local guide is most likely to answer. He asked me for my Google Map and google local appointment lette. Where did you find google to give you what you call your job? Can you get us a bank statement of your pay pla with them? Did they give you permission to take photos ayway. He still expressed his ignorance broadly when he told me that of all places in Uganda why would google send me to take photosat their station? He added, who is the owner of Google if I may ask? To that question I quickly answered. He is Lala Page. He stupidly and shamelessly asked me the exact place I was in when I got a job acceptance meeting with Lala page. When I tried to answer that its impossible to reach Lala Page and he doesn’t know that I even exsist, he slapped me hard again informing me that I had no right to talk to them but should keep so mute and wait for my proceedings.
I knelt down but thinking about the reality of the questions he had truly asked me. Although he was such a biting dog, his questions took me so deep in thoughts. On knees, I asked myself if am that important to Google like I think I am. I asked myself if I can email google and get helped the next day with proof that I am their worker. I asked myself if just points and upgrade from one level to another would lead me to this. I remembered the question about the appointment letters and evidence that I work for Google and I just got failed.
With thoughts of no proper answers taking over my apparent head and imagination, the police patrol car meant to take me reached. The day barking guard dragged me again as well kicking me hard. I said that if am to be taken, then I should be given my phone for it had all the evidence that I was a google local guide although I didn’t have the appointment letters. The angry guard refused saying I wanted to delete evidence of the photos I had taken. He slapped me again saying he asked me not to say a word. Some polite guard said that my phone should be given to one of the askaris that had came with the police patrol as eveidwnce for my robbery plot.
A few gears, we were on Wandegeya main Police station. I was asked to wear off my shirt, belt and shoes, lay on my stomach with my hands spread on the ground, something I did. I felt hurt for Google didn’t know this and probably will never know that my life has been put at stake because I wanted to give them nice reviews. I asked the station police man if I could talk to someone for rescue. He agreed and give me my phone.
At this time, I felt that no one and no one will ever standard my job part from google themselves and so I sent google maps an email. Don’t ask me if I have their email address, I don’t but I went and replied to one of the very many emails they had sent me. I knew as soon as they see this, they will come for my rescue. But I think I was in a myth story thought.
At around 6am, the other polite security guard at the petrol station came by saying he has read what google local guides do. I felt so liberated. He came along with the station officer in charge and the asked me again for my phone and all the reviews had so far contributed to google which I gladdly showed to them.
They went through all my work, my content and pictures. He said that the boy you are making to lay down and being kicked is actually doing a nice job for our facilities and companies. So, are you are going to accused him of doing good for us just because we didnt know that all this exsists. I think he needs chance to express himself rightly apart from saying he was plotting a robbery plot.
The OC called me to cloth up and asked me to tell him what I exactly do. And this is what I proudly said,
“I know you may be among people who use Google maps. Like you are going somewhere you have never been before but you know the name of the area and ask Google where the place or building is. The ability of google to give you details over the place including pictures of the place is because people like me are doing a great job. We take pictures and write content over these places”
He then smilingly said. So, meaning you have foreign money from Google. I had an inside BIG NO because I had never heard of it. I went on to tell him that its not only that petrol station but many tourism centres and food houses and accommodation centres are assisted by people like us.
They were convinced and said thank you for your work. We are sorry for the treatment that has been characterised with brutality and ignorance. And when he asked me what I would like, I asked to go back and take more pictures at the petrol station the next night.
The night looked so horrific but I was glad I had explained our work as Google local guides to a group of police men and they appreciated. But up to now, I feel hurt for google has never replied to my agent email I sent them seeking a rescue move.
I Defended GoogleMaps And Local Guiding Under Police Custody (Most Interesting Thing As Local Guide)
4 Likes
@Bakermusas I feel bad about the treatment that you had to go through. We need to remind ourselves to abide by local laws and customary practices. And not to put ourselves at any risk when contributing as a Local Guide. Also, we should never say we work for Google, because we don’t. We are not employees of Google. We are just contributing in our own effort and time (not because Google asked us to), sharing what we know on Google Maps.
So, please take care and be more careful next time.
I leant a lot from then. And so I have added new places on Google maps, given more reviews and more is coming