The Federation of Motorsports Clubs of Uganda (FMU), in collaboration with the National Council of Sports (NCS), officially flagged off three Ugandan representatives today ahead of their participation in two prestigious international motorsport events.
Motocross rider Sharifah Kateete, along with rally crews Yasin Nasser and Timothy Gawaya, will represent Uganda on the global stage. Kateete is set to compete in the FIM Oceania Women’s MX Cup in Australia, while Nasser and Gawaya will take on the demanding World Rally Championship (WRC) Kenya Safari Rally. Both events are scheduled to take place over the weekend of March 21st–23rd.
Kateete, who will be riding under a Kenyan license, joins an elite group of six African female riders selected for the Oceania Cup based on their outstanding performances in last year’s African Championship, the Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN) held in Morocco. She will compete alongside Zambia’s Leah Heygate and South African riders Mienke Cawood, Zoe Botha, and Ivana Venter, as well as Kenya’s Atete Benzinge.
Expressing her excitement, Kateete shared her aspirations ahead of the competition: “I am so happy to be part of the team representing Africa. I look forward to using this opportunity to inspire other Ugandan female riders and set an example for future generations. I’m fit and ready to make the machine roar.” Kateete is set to travel to South Africa for a pre-event training camp alongside her fellow competitors.
Meanwhile, Yasin Nasser, the 2019 and 2023 Uganda National Rally Champion, reflected on his journey to WRC participation: “It’s always a dream for someone to start a hobby and then turn it into a career. Since 2015, when we began competing in the Ugandan championship, we have aimed for the sky. Our success in the ARC events has paved the way for us to participate in WRC.”
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Yasin added; “It has been a long journey, and we’ve faced many hurdles. However, this time feels special. We have prepared thoroughly to enjoy ourselves and compete at our best. This WRC event will be tough, especially given our past challenges. Last year, we didn’t finish due to a crash in SS7, Kedong stage, but we have learned from those mistakes and are ready to raise the Ugandan flag high while gaining valuable experience from international competitors.”
Uganda’s motorsport fraternity eagerly awaits the performance of its representatives in these prestigious events, as they aim to showcase their talent and fly the national flag high on the global stage.
