The Uganda Motorsports Club(UMC) rally at Kassanda Sugar factory on Saturday, 5th June in Mityana gave rally fans a good show. This event was previously held in Fort Portal since 2015, so the change in scenery was a much welcome one. After scrutineering on 04th, 26 cars were given the green light to race the next day. The town people were very excited to get a chance to see race cars up close and a much-needed distraction from day-to-day struggles. The cars left Parc Femme at the emirates hotel in Mityana town early morning and headed out to the section starter in Bukompe.
Rally openers put on a show as Mike Mukula Jr, son to the prominent Mike Mukula proves to have the chops to be a really strong competitor, gliding through corners and a steady grip while on the road, he excited most of the fans and they are looking forward to seeing more of him in the future.
Old-timers Shidi, Kavuma, and Ssendenge also put on a good performance. With Yasin Nasser and Godfrey Aine Sodo pulling out of this rally due to unforeseen circumstances, future game-changers also got a chance to shine like Charlie Lubega’s son Mark Lubega who got people’s attention not only through his brilliant technique but his pink Subaru and landed victory in the Clubman rally championship-CRC.
Ponsiano Lwakataka put on a show but retired after the first stage with technical issues; Abdul Kateete, John Burrows, and Fred Busulwa all put on good runs but it was down to Duncan Mubiru, Jas Mangat, Hassan Alwi, and Rajiv Ruparelia in the end. Jas and Duncan were the stars of the event with fans cheering and rooting for them, with the better times, navigating the sharp corners well, in the last stage, Mangat going head to head with Ruparelia was the most talked about last weekend.
At the end of it all, even after the rain disrupted the event, Pili Pili team won the rally coming out lead in all six stages, team Kikankane came in second, Rajiv Ruparelia Rally team came in third, and IUEA Rally team in fourth place. Duncan now goes on top of the NRC table with 270 points.
Most drivers are now in preparations for the Africa Rally Championship Pearl of Africa Event in August while some will head to compete in the World Rally Championship Safari rally due on the weekend of 24th June in the Naivasha province.
