Yasin Nasser/Ali Katumba Extend NRC Lead, Peter Kalule Scores Career-First Podium Finish as the EMC Jinja Rally Wraps

The fourth round of the National Rally Championship (NRC) ended on Sunday, 09 July with team Moil’s Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba extending their NRC lead after they won the EMC Jinja rally in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 (R5) with a total time of 1:21:34:77 and a total competitive distance of 144.84km. Nasser is leading with 398 points, a 165-point difference from Duncan Mubiru. Nasser/Katumba have won three rounds on the NRC calendar- the Mbarara, Kabalega/Hoima, and Jinja rallies.

From left to right: Ronald Ssebuguzi, Anthony Mugambwa, Yasin Nasser, Ali Katumba, Peter Kalule, and David Mwesigwa. The podium finishers of the Jinja rally (2nd,1st, & 3rd). Photo Credit: Rob Styles.

Nasser/Katumba won a total of six stages out of the eight (SS1, SS2, SS4, SS5, SS6, and SS7); the team had an impressive 0:08:06:43-time difference from Ssebuguzi who finished in second place. With the remaining three rounds, Nasser will be hoping to score a second NRC championship title in his first year competing in his Ford Fiesta R5 (he won his first NRC title in 2019). Nasser also won the premier division.

Shell’s Ronald Ssebuguzi and co-driver Anthony Mugambwa scored a second-place podium finish in their Ford Fiesta Proto with a total time of 1:29:41:20. They ended day one in third behind Byron Rugomoka/Hakim Mawanda but pulled no punches on day two to finish second. By far, this was one of Ssebuguzi’s best performances this season.

Peter Kalule scored the first podium win of his career after finishing third, navigated by David Mwesigwa in their Subaru Impreza XV; they did a total time of 1:42:05:25. Kalule started his rallying career back in 2011 and this was a really big achievement for him. Kalule was also the winner of the Division One category.

Putting on a very good performance on day two, was Ibrahim “Pasuwa” Lubega and co-driver Mustapha Kanakulya in their Toyota Corolla FX placing them in fifth place overall. Lubega ended day one in eighth place but came out as the winner of the 2WD category.

2WD podium finishers; from left, Diana Nagawa, Julius Semambo, Ibrahim Lubega, Mustapha Kanakulya, Samuel Watendwa, and Isaac Lumu celebrating their victory. Photo Credit: Rob Styles.

Youngsters Ali Mohammed navigated by brother Ahmed Anees Mohammed won the Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) category in their Subaru Impreza with a spectacular time difference of 0:09:07:70 from the Omar brothers that placed second. Mohammed did a time of 1:04:24:50 (they do 70% of the rally). On their debut, Yasser Ali Omar and his brother Wazir Ali Omar finished in second place behind the Mohammed brothers; the brothers are known for competing in motocross (and basketball for Yasser) for the most part but a second-place finish on their debut was quite impressive.

CRC winners Ali Mohammed (center left) and brother Ahmed Anees Mohammed (center right) with their prizes. Photo Credit: Rob Styles.

Yasser Ali Omar (center left) and brother Wazir Ali Omar (center right) finished in second place on their debut in the CRC category. Photo Credit: Rob Styles.

The rally had many competitors not completing due to mechanical and technical issues; Duncan Mubiru suffered a technical issue with his Ford Fiesta Proto right from the super special stage when the car suddenly stopped, other drivers to retire included: Joshua Muwanguzi, Byron Rugomoka, Innocent Bwamiki, Moustapha Mukasa, Oscar Ntambi, Rashid Makumbi, Amir Kavuma, Faisal Kayiira, Umar Kakyama, Ismail Lule, Nasser Ratib, and Gilberto Balondemu. There were only ten finishers out of the twenty-nine that started on day one.

The next round on the NRC calendar will be the SMC Masaka rally slated for August 11-13 which will be the fifth event.

Final Overall Results;