The Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) has hailed rally stars Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba for one of the most dramatic victories in African rally history, after the Ugandan crew clinched the 2025 FIA Africa Rally Championship by a single point on Sunday in Morogoro, Tanzania.
In a congratulatory letter, FMU General Secretary Reynolds K. Kibira praised the Moil Rally Team duo for their “outstanding performance, discipline, and resilience,” calling the feat a reminder that Ugandan athletes can conquer the continent.
The win comes 26 years after Charles Muhangi and Stephen Byaruhanga last lifted the continental crown in 1999.
Nasser and Katumba arrived in Tanzania with an eight-point lead over Kenya’s Samman Vohra but faced a tense finale.
Driving a Ford Fiesta R2, they played it safe while Vohra attacked the course, ending Saturday in front and threatening to snatch the championship. Nasser finished the day in fourth.
Sunday’s final leg flipped the standings when double African champion Karen Patel surged late to take the win and the power stage.
Patel’s victory cut Vohra’s points, leaving Nasser’s steady run plus two bonus points from the last stage, enough to seal the title by the narrowest margin.
The triumph ends years of near misses for Uganda. Veteran Jas Mangat fell short in 2013, but Nasser and Katumba have now returned the nation to the top of African rallying.
“Your achievement is historic,” FMU’s letter concluded, calling the pair “role models who inspire the next generation of Ugandan drivers and co-drivers.”
