Hassan Alwi Jr and co-driver Musa Nsubuga extended their lead at the top of the 2026 KCB National Rally Championship standings after winning the recently concluded KCB NRC3 Rally held in the districts of Masaka and Sembabule on Friday and Saturday. The victory further strengthens Alwi’s championship campaign as the season approaches its halfway stage.
The rally had initially looked set to be dominated by Duncan Mubiru and co-driver Hamza Lwanga. The pair stormed into an early lead after setting the fastest times in the opening two stages and appeared to be in complete control of the event. However, their rally took a dramatic turn during the Super Special Stage when a power steering failure struck their Ford fiesta Proto, costing them valuable time and ultimately their lead.
Alwi and Nsubuga capitalized on the misfortune of their rivals by maintaining a clean and trouble-free run throughout the rally. Once they inherited the lead, the pair remained consistent and avoided mistakes, eventually crossing the finish line with a winning time of 1:10:22. The victory was particularly special for Alwi as it marked his first-ever finish in a Masaka-based rally.
The battle behind the leaders remained intense throughout the weekend. Kansiime delivered a strong performance to finish second overall with a time of 1:11:43.38, while Duncan Mubiru and Hamza Lwanga recovered from their earlier setback to complete the podium in third place with a time of 1:12:04.08. Kataza rounded off the top five after posting a total time of 1:14:48.26.
The rally was not without casualties. Reigning National Rally Champion and four-time national champion Ronald Ssebuguzi became one of the biggest victims of the demanding event after retiring in the second-last stage of the rally. His retirement dealt a blow to his championship ambitions as valuable points slipped away.
Alwi’s victory follows his success in the season-opening Mbale Rally, allowing him to maintain his position at the summit of the championship standings. With two victories from the opening three rounds, the young driver is increasingly establishing himself as the man to beat in this year’s title race.
Ambrose Byona and co-driver Susan Kalema also showed impressive pace during the rally. The crew enjoyed a smooth run for most of the event before suffering a broken suspension in the third-last stage. Despite the setback, they utilized restart regulations and returned to compete in the Power Stage, salvaging important championship points.
In the two-wheel-drive category, Dr. Godfrey Nsereko and co-driver JB Musisi emerged victorious aboard their recently acquired Toyota Etios. The crew delivered a faultless performance from start to finish and completed the rally in 1:22:36, securing their first victory with the new machine.
Mansoor Lubega and Kenneth Kavuma finished second in their Toyota Corolla after another trouble-free outing. Their time of 1:24:27 was enough to move them to the top of the 2WD championship standings. Completing the category podium were Julius Semambo and Diana Nagawa in a Toyota Sprinter, who finished with a total time of 1:26:03.
The Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) category also produced plenty of drama. Early leader Godfrey Munyegera and co-driver Saul Musoke looked set for victory until a broken driveshaft on their Subaru Impreza ended their challenge and forced them to surrender the lead.
Denis Bahizi was the main beneficiary of Munyegera’s misfortune. Driving a Subaru Impreza, Bahizi inherited the lead and never looked back, eventually securing victory with a winning time of 52:00.23. The result gives him a major boost in the CRC title race.
The Trademate-sponsored crew of Sharif Muyanja and Edward Kiyingi finished second in their Toyota RunX, putting themselves back into championship contention. Muniru Sande and Hassan Katerega completed the CRC podium in their Toyota FX with a total time of 1:00:18.
Despite finishing fourth in the event, Asiimwe Doreen continues to lead the CRC championship standings. With the championship race tightening and several contenders finding form, the battle for CRC honors is shaping up to be one of the most exciting contests of the season.
Final Results Top 10
- Hassan Alwi Jr/ Musa Nsubuga =1:10:22
- Jonas Kansime / Ronald Bukenya = 1:11:43
- Duncan Mubiru/ Hamza Lwanga =1:12:44
- Musa Ssegaabwe / Mathias Kiyega =1:13:49
- Haruna Kataza / David Mwesigwa =1:14:48
- Moses Lumala / Cedric Buzabo =1:15:26
- Oscar Ntambi / Pius Luggya =1:16:33
- Aine Sodo/ Asumman Mohammed =1:17:36
- Walter Kibande/ Duncan Katumba =1:18:17
- Godfrey Nsereko/ JB Musisi =1:22:36
As the 2026 KCB National Rally Championship approaches its midpoint, the championship picture is slowly becoming clearer. The leading contenders are beginning to emerge, but with several rounds still to be contested and reliability continuing to play a crucial role, the fight for both the overall and category titles remains wide open.
