The National Rally Championship will carry extra meaning next month when it heads to Northern Uganda for the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally.
From October 9 to 12, the sixth round of the championship will celebrate the late businessman and motorsport driver whose energy and generosity touched many lives.
Organised by the Central Motor Club, the rally will feature stages named after Rajiv, who served as the club’s Board of Trustees chair before his sudden death on May 3.
The 34-year-old entrepreneur died in a crash at the Busabala Flyover in Wakiso District while driving his Nissan GTR, a loss that shocked Uganda’s business and motorsport communities.
Kampala mourned with a symbolic drift rally, a citywide procession, and final rites at the Hindu Crematorium in Lugogo clear signs of the mark he left behind.
A Racer and Supporter
A graduate of South Africa’s Rallystar Academy, Rajiv began competitive rallying in 2019 and quickly became a fan favorite.
Driving a Volkswagen Polo Proto under his Ruparelia Rally Team, he won the 2021 Kabalega Rally before stepping away from active racing in 2022.
Even off the track, he pushed motorsport forward and invested in community projects.
The Gulu event will reflect that spirit, pairing high-speed racing with a community outreach drive.
Friends and Leaders pay tribute
Close friend Gideon Kirumira, CEO of Trigger Enterprises, urged Ugandans to attend. “We are celebrating a great brother, a father,” he said. “This is the time for all of us who appreciated Rajiv’s love to come out with our families, give back, and enjoy the sport he loved.”
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Gulu Mayor Alfred Okwonga welcomed the rally, calling it a chance to showcase the region’s growth and boost local tourism and business.
“The event is not only a celebration of Rajiv’s life but an opportunity for Gulu to shine,” he said.
For Reynolds Kibira, the FMU General Secretary, the importance of the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally to this season’s NRC title race.
He also added and preached caution and safety to the drivers and enthusiasts taking part in this rally.
Racing with heart
Championship leader Ponsiano Lwakataka heads into the round with strong momentum, promising a competitive weekend filled with emotion.
