Yusuf Bukenya’s Fundraising Rally Sprint Event Brings Different Perspective

The fundraising event dubbed “Bring Back Dusty” to help driver Yusuf Bukenya make his return to rallying after his car burnt to ashes in June 2018 at the UMC Fort Portal rally took place on Sunday, 24 July 2022 at Garuga race track in Entebbe.

The FMU-sanctioned event also served as a sprint/circuit scoring event on the FMU (Federation for Motorsport Uganda) calendar for the competitors that took place as well as offering their support to Bukenya.

Yusuf Bukenya comes from a rallying family with his father Wycliff Bukenya commonly known as “Roll master” being in the rally for some good time back in the day. Bukenya grew his passion from an early age when he started riding bikes at age four. He last raced in the 125CC class then moved to rallying at seventeen years. His father gave him his first rally car, a Mitsubishi Evo7 in 2015 and in 2016, he started racing. His speed and driving style got him the nickname “Dusty”.

Yusuf Bukenya and Frank Sserugo in action at the 2018 Fort Portal Rally.

Unfortunately, on 3^rd June 2018 at the UMC Fort Portal challenge rally, his rallying career came to an unexpected standstill when his Mitsubishi Evo9 went up in flames and burnt to ashes. Bukenya and his long-time co-driver Frank Sserugo Kaheesi escaped unharmed but that put a pin in his racing career and he has been on a journey to fundraise for a new car since. That Evo9 was also a gift from his father and Kaheesi on a side note was also Wycliff’s navigator.

Bukenya’s car in flames at the Fort Portal event back in 2018.

The event turned out fans and it was a really big step in the right direction to getting him back to rallying. There was also a practice run for riders preparing for the MXOAN FIM Africa challenge scheduled for 20-21 August. Riders from all sides participated (FMU and MAU) and it was really great seeing the likes of Fortune Ssentamu and Gift Ssebuguzi on the Garuga track, something that excited fans and a hope for the future.

Fortune Ssentamu on bike number 55 in the front and Alestair Blick on his tail at the practice run on the race track at Garuga. Image by Innocent Mutaawe.

In the Sprint challenge, Mike Mukula Jr kept his unmatched energy and won the event along side co-driver Edward Kiyinji in their Subaru Impreza, at a time of 04:18.6. Mukula is building a name of his own in the motorsport world and has a bright future shining his way.

On a rare sighting was Hassan Alwi and co-driver Abdul Majid in a Subaru Impreza, coming in second place very closely behind Mukula, just 00:02.0 behind. Closing out the top three was youngster Mark Lubega and co-driver Daniel Mbabazi also in a Subaru Impreza at 04:22.6. They missed the second-place position by 00:02.0.

Drivers are gearing up for the fifth round of the National Rally Championship in Masaka scheduled for 5-7 August 2022.