The first round of the National Sprint Championship was held in Forest Park Buloba on 23 April 2023 and was won by Byron Rugomoka and co-driver Hakim Mawanda in their Mitsubishi Evo X at a total time of 03:57.3. It rained throughout the day and the track was very muddy but fans came out to support their favorites.
This first round served as a fundraising sprint for the Nkozi Hospital Accident and Trauma Centre; the Katikiro (prime minister) of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga served as the chief guest and flagged off the sprint at the park and all proceeds from the event would go towards the refurbishing and equipping of the hospital’s accident and trauma wing. Nkozi Hospital is the only hospital between Masaka and Mpigi that deals with accident cases so this was a great cause for the federation and drivers as a whole.
Byron Rugomoka won the sprint as Joshua Muwanguzi and co-driver Ritah Nakigozi came in second place in their Subaru Impreza at a time of 03:58.1. Muwanguzi is proving to be a good competitor this season since his return back. In third place closing out the podium was Ibrahim Lubega and co-driver Mustafa Kanakulya in their Toyota Corolla FX.
MOIL’s Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba were disqualified from the race because Nasser did not wear his rally suit while taking part in the race. However, the crew had the honor of driving the Katikiro, Charles Peter Mayiga in their Ford Fiesta before the event started.
Last year’s sprint champion, Mike Mukula Jr did not take part in this round as he is gearing up to make his comeback in the prestigious Pearl of Africa rally slated for May.
Results;
- Byron Rugomoka/Hakim Mawanda-Mitsubishi Evo X-03:57.3
- Joshua Muwanguzi/Ritah Nakigozi-Subaru Impreza-03:58.1
- Ibrahim Lubega/Mustafa Kanakulya-Toyota Corolla FX-04:01.1
- Godfrey Kiyimba/Urban Mulindwa-Subaru Impreza-04:03.9
- Jonas Kansiime/Ronald Bukenya-Mitsubishi Evo 9-04:06.7
- Edison Mungereza/M Ssegabwe-Subaru Impreza-04:07.5
- Umar Dauda/Steven Bunya-Mitsubishi Evo IV-04:07.6
- Ali Omar Y Bobo/Wazir Ali Omar-Mitsubishi Lancer-04:12.6
- Fred Kitaka Busulwa/Mildred Kibuuka-Subaru Impreza-04:20.8
- Rashid Makumbi/Yusuf Babu-Subaru Impreza-04:22.6
- John Paul Kyebambe/Kadadi Muzafaru-Subaru Impreza-04:25.1
- Mansur Lubega/Arthur Lugolobi-Toyota Levin-04:26.7
- Isaac Ssozi/Jackson Serwanga-Subaru Impreza-04:28.3
- Fred Wampamba/Edmond Kyeyune-Subaru Impreza-04:31.9
- Amir Kavuma-Subaru Impreza-04:33.3
- Samuel Watendwa/Isaac Lumu-Toyota Corolla FX-04:35.2
- Umar Kakyama/Robert Katabalwa-Ford Fiesta-04:40.9
- Kataza Haruna/Paul Nsubuga-04:41.3
- Julius Semambo/Diana Nagawa-Toyota Corolla FX-04:44.2
- Mustafa Mukasa/Lawrence Mwambazi-Subaru Impreza-04:44.5
- Paul Kasozi/Shaina Kobusingye-Suzuki Swift-04:50.2
- Peter Kalule/John Bosco Musisi-Subaru Impreza-04:53.2
- Abby Mutebi-Buggy-05:16.8
- Muyanja Sabiiti-Toyota Corolla FX-05:18.8
- Najib Ssempijja/Hamza Ssengabi-Suzuki Sswift-05:18.9
- Faizal Kayiira/Monica Birwinyo-Subaru Impreza-05:27.4
