Eastern Uganda will host the next stop of the National Rally Championship (NRC) this weekend, with drivers pushing their limits on the rough terrain of Soroti and Katakwi in pursuit of points as the 2026 calendar enters the final bend.
The organizing committee for the 4th NRC event, led by Clerk of the Course Monica Birwinyo, assured the public that all is set for the three-day championship, which will feature four stages.
“Before racing, we are going to start with a tree-planting activity. The automobile industry, which we are part of, produces a lot of carbon emissions, and to mitigate that and save the environment, we decided to increase the number of trees in the area,” Clerk of the Course Monica Birwinyo told Nnalubaale Sports.
Addressing the press at Copper Chimney Bar and Restaurant, Lugogo, on Tuesday afternoon, Birwinyo added that drivers and their navigators will face an overall total distance of 289.66 km, with 136.02 km designated as competitive.
Entries for the event opened on July 18, 2026, and closed on Monday, with 35 rally crews confirmed for competition, pending scrutineering this Thursday at Shell Soroti.
By press time, crews were already doing recceing on the stages in Soroti District. The Super Special Stage (Double Circuit) will take place at the Soroti Sports Ground on Friday, July 24, 2026, free of charge, with safety being the main priority.
The ceremonial start takes place on Thursday at Soroti Hotel. More stages follow on Saturday in Katakwi District, culminating in the prize-giving ceremony at Katakwi Sports Ground to close the event.
Drivers will battle through SEGAMU 14 STAGE 1 (10.65 km) and IUEA STAGE 2 (17.16 km) on Friday. On Saturday, all eyes will be on the Captain Mike Mukula Stage, which features a Super Special Stage of 1.26 km on Lane A and 1.20 km on Lane B.
The exciting Double Circuit session will be free of charge, but the public has been urged to adhere strictly to instructions from the stewards for safety purposes. “The numbers will be huge, but we are prepared for that, and a special section has been demarcated for our spectators,” Birwinyo stressed.
On Championship Sunday, the action heads to Katakwi District early in the morning with another two stages on the menu: the MMC STAGE (13.60 km) and the STEADFAST FORWARDERS STAGE (18.09 km). The two will be run twice leading into the Power Stage.
The event concludes with a repeat of the STEADFAST FORWARDERS STAGE—shortened to 12.10 km and named after Sports State Minister Peter Ogwang—followed by the prize-giving ceremony at Katakwi Sports Ground.
The NRC standings are intensely contested following the opening three rounds of 2026, including the prestigious Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally. Hassan Alwi Jr. currently leads, with the overall top five national crews holding the following points heading into the Soroti-Katakwi event:
Hassan Alwi Jr / Musa Nsubuga: 118 points
Umar Dauda / Steven Bunya: 82.5 points
Duncan Mubiru / Siraj Kyambadde: 79 points
Randeep Singh Birdi: 77 points
Yasin Nasser / Ali Katumba: 73 points
