Uganda’s motocross team, the Cranes, soared to a remarkable third-place finish at the FIM-Africa Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN), held in Harare, Zimbabwe, proudly bringing home bronze after a weekend of action.
The Ugandans battled against Africa’s top motocross powerhouses, amassing 284 points to secure their podium spot. Hosts Zimbabwe thrilled the home fans with 468 points to clinch silver, while the ever-dominant South Africa reigned supreme, sweeping multiple categories including MX50, MX65, MX Elite, MX125, MX2, and WMXwith a staggering 717 points.
For Uganda, the bronze medal was made even sweeter by history-making victories in the junior ladies’ categories. Rising stars Hellena Birungi Ainomugisha and Jamairah Makumbi struck gold in MX50 Ladies and MX65 Ladies, respectively. Uganda’s junior ranks proved unstoppable, sweeping all three podium spots in both categories. In MX50, Abigail Katende finished second, with Abigail Muwanguzi clinching third. In MX65, Faith Angel Deedan and Joy Norah Akao joined Makumbi to complete a clean sweep.
Birungi’s performance was particularly outstanding as she not only defended her 2024 African Women’s Championship title but also competed head-to-head with boys in the mixed 50CC race, finishing an impressive 12th overall.
Other standout contributors included Jaysen Katek, Isreal Mpuga, Alber Muwanguzi, and Janan Makumbi, who all added vital points for the Cranes. In the MX125 class, team captain Gift Tabula Ssebuguzi showed remarkable consistency, finishing fifth in all three heats to steady Uganda’s scorecard.
Uganda also fielded a strong presence across categories: Ethan Paul and Jude Musedde in MX65, Miguel and Jonathan Katende alongside Ethan Katek in MX Elite, while Waleed Omar and Wazir Ali Omar carried the flag in MX2 and MX1, respectively.
FMU Deputy Vice President of Motorcycling and team manager Arthur Blick Jr. lauded the squad’s resilience:
“I would like to welcome back Team Uganda for achieving a successful podium finish at the continental event. Competing on a fully sandy track, unlike the hard surfaces we train on at home, was a huge challenge, but the team showed great adaptability and spirit.”
The 2025 MXoAN featured riders from eight nations South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, Uganda, and Kenya drawing over 200 competitors across junior and senior levels, making it one of the most competitive editions in recent years.
2025 MXoAN Overall Standings
- South Africa – 717 pts
- Zimbabwe – 468 pts
- Uganda – 284 pts
- Namibia – 281 pts
- Botswana – 159 pts
For Uganda, this bronze builds on last year’s silver in Marrakech, Morocco, signaling a steady rise in continental motocross. With prodigious talents like Birungi and Makumbi leading the charge, the Cranes are poised for even greater success when the event heads to Namibia in 2026.
