Uganda’s Muzamiru Mwami Wotolya and co-driver Abud Karim Kakooza won the Rwanda Huye Rally in their Subaru Impreza N8 with a total time of 02:08:40 also scoring their first career win in rallying. The crew came from a fifth position at the end of day one to a surprising win which had only three finishers.
Uganda was well represented in Huye with four drivers confirmed on the start list on Saturday, the 26, and as the day ended, Muzamiru was in fifth place going into the last day of competition on Sunday. Saturday proved challenging as there were only seven finishers out of the eleven that were on the start list. Through persistence and careful driving, Muzamiru with co-driver Kakooza were the only Ugandan crew to finish the event.
In second place were Remezo Christian and co-driver Remezo Jonathan in their Toyota Celica with a total time of 02:27:18. The crew from Burundi had a time difference of 00:18:38 from Muzamiru. It was a truly eventful rally as Christian finished sixth on the first day; this was a good performance from the team as they were the only crew from Burundi to complete the rally.
In third place, were the only female crew from Rwanda, Kalimpinya Queen and co-driver Ngabo Olivier in their Subaru Impreza GC8. They did a total time of 02:31:23. Queen and co-driver Olivier were seventh on Saturday so this was a really good performance from the ladies…
The rally was challenging to most of the crews; five crews suffered DNFs (Did Not Finish) including Prime Two Fity and co-driver Charly Musafi whose journey came to a sad end in SS9 so close to the end of the event, the Burundi crew had been consistent throughout the event but unfortunately suffered a broken suspension 5km to end the stage, Gakwaya Jean-Claude with co-driver Mugabo Jean-Claude stopped in SS2, Yoto Fabrice and co-driver Murenzi Brayan also ended in SS2, Moustapha Mukasa, and co-driver Pius Luggya, and Kanangire Christian with co-driver Rutabingwa Fernard all ended in SS2.
Three crews were disqualified from the event after breaching competition rules: Faidah Philibert with co-driver Guy Malherbe were disqualified for doing mechanical repairs at the time control, Fred Busulwa Kitaka with co-driver Mildred Kibuuka, and Innocent Bwamiki with co-driver Hamza Lwanga were disqualified for getting outside assistance when their cars broke down.
