The long awaited UMOSPOC Kabalega rally set off the weekend of 23rd October 2021. It was the drivers’ time to be back in the rally environment here at home given the last event was held in Kassanda back in June. Rajiv Ruparelia and his co-driver Enoch Olinga in their Volkswagen Polo came out on top with a total time of 1:44:56 in a competitive distance of 158.24km. This was Rajiv’s first win this season and a long awaited one. This came with drama but the Ruparelia team landed the number one position.
In second position was the current leader in the NRC standings, Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru and his co-driver Musa Nsubuga in their Subaru GVB with a time of 1:45:41. Mubiru put on a good performance in the muddy and slippery grounds of Hoima. Coming in third place was Shell Powered Ronald Ssebuguzi and his co-driver Anthony Mugambwa in their Mitsubishi EvoX, they put in a time of 1:47:01.
Rounding out the top five were Omar Mayanja and his co-driver Mukuye Hussein in their Mitsubishi EvoX with a time of 1:48:20 and International University of Uganda’s Hassan Alwi and co-driver James Mwanji in their Subaru Impreza with 1:53:33.
In the 2Wheel Drive (2WD) category, it was championship leader Ibrahim Lubega and co-driver Geoffrey Serwoga’s show! They won in that category with a good margin and many of the spectators saying they had one of the best performances of the day. They did a time of 2:17:41 and held on to their lead position in the category. In second place were Godfrey Nsereko and co-driver Raymond Munyigwa with a time of 2:38:15; Lubega beat Godfrey by a thirteen minute and fifty seconds margin. In third place were Najib Sempijja and co-driver Gloria Nantongo with a time 2:52:54.
In the Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) category, Oscar Ntambi and co-driver Asuman Muhammad in their Toyota Alteeza came out on top in a time of 2:25:25. Faizal Kayira and co-driver Mariam Nambasa in their Subaru GC8 came in second place in 2:27:15 and in third place was Amir Kavuma and co-driver Mustapha Kanakulya with a time of 2:35:46.
The rally claimed many causalities like Jas Mangat and co-driver Joseph Kamya suffered mechanical issues at the start of the race with their Mitsubishi EvoX and were unable to compete this time round, Abdul Kateete and co-driver George Ssemakula suffered overheating of their car and retired from the rally after 16km. Other causalities of this rally were Arthur Blick Jr and co-driver son Alestair Blick in their Mitsubishi EvoX who did just one stage due to engine troubles, Timothy Gawaya and co-driver Francis Wamala in their Toyota Starlet, Issa Nyanzi and co-driver Richard Sengendo in their Subaru Impreza, Robert Kasana and co-driver Mawanda in their Subaru Imprezza. The next round in the NRC is scheduled to take place in Jinja in November.
