A 69-year-old American has pleaded not guilty to assault in Uganda after widely circulated video footage showed him punching a hotel worker, using racial insults and threatening to kill him.
Jimmy L. Taylor’s angry tirade was caught on camera and he was arrested soon afterwards and charged with assault and malicious damage for his attack at the Grand Imperial Hotel in Kampala on Thursday 16 August 2018.
The footage shows Taylor charging at the receptionist and saying: “You hate Jesus. You hate yourself. You hate me. You disgraced Jesus. Huh?”
Upon police efforts to effect his arrest Taylor spat on, turned rowdy, uncontrollable and tried to disarm policemen.
During the questioning, the American National confessed to having attacked the victim. He claimed an illness caused him to suffer stress that drove him to attack the hotel staff.
Taylor, who says he is a missionary and military veteran, was granted non-cash bail due to poor health. His next hearing is on Oct. 4.
