Three rounds in and the 2025 NRC has already chewed up gearboxes, spat out bumpers, and left fans with dust in places we can’t mention. We’ve skidded through the MPU Mbarara rally, danced over mud in SMC Masaka, and turbo-blasted through the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally.
Now, hold onto your snacks and tighten your fireproof undies, it’s time for Round Four: the EMC Rally! From 10th to 12th July, the engines will roar through Jinja and Kayunga, where spectators become track marshals by accident and every corner is a potential meme. It’s rally time.
The action kicks off on Thursday with scrutineering that sacred ritual where officials poke, prod, and stare at rally cars like suspicious mothers inspecting their kids’ report cards. It’s the calm before the storm, the official check to make sure everything’s in order… right before all hell breaks loose and chaos grabs the steering wheel.
Friday? Oh, that’s not for the faint-hearted, it’s for the caffeine-fueled, adrenaline-chasing maniacs we call rally crews. The day kicks off with two monster stages: one stretching 18km and another a leg-cramping 25km, slicing right through the twisting Kakira Sugar plantations. Think sugarcane walls taller than your problems, hairpin turns tighter than your jeans after Christmas, and drivers pushing bravery to reckless levels.
Then it’s a quick 30-minute service stop which in rally language means a chaotic pit crew dance of spanners, shouting, But don’t blink, because the action shifts gears with a spicy 9km stage part of which moonlights later as the infamous Night Stage. Yep, that same stretch transforms into a rally horror film at 7:30 PM. Visibility? Like peering through a keyhole in a sandstorm. Nerves? Shattered. Mistakes? Recorded for future memes.
Just when you’re thinking “surely that’s enough,” boom the Super Special Stage kicks in. A double-circuit gladiator pit where drivers go head-to-head while fans scream like they’re at a wrestling match. It’s loud. It’s wild. It’s pure rally.
And just when everyone should be in bed dreaming about suspension setups, it’s time to head back into the darkness Night Stage Round Two. This time, the headlights are your only friends, the dust is everywhere, and the drivers? Full-blown nocturnal rally ninjas.
Day Two doesn’t let off the gas it serves up two more stages: a sharp 15km sprint and a demanding 25km stretch, both done twice, because apparently, rally drivers enjoy suffering on repeat. But wait that 15km stage isn’t just any drive through the bush. No, sir it’s the Power Stage, the place where heroes are made and gearboxes go to cry.
This is the stage where bonus points are up for grabs, and drivers suddenly start driving like their rent is due. One small mistake? You’re in the group chat for all the wrong reasons. One perfect run? You’re a championship contender and possibly the next name fans chant over roast meat and soda.
The leaderboard is already hotter than a roadside grill, with Ronald Ssebuguzi leading the NRC pack like he’s got a rocket strapped to his Evo. Hot on his tail are Musa Ssegaabwe, Ponsiano Lwakataka, and Duncan Mubiru the guy who practically owned the Pearl and is now hungry for more glory.
But the real spotlight? It’s shining on Hassan Alwi Jr., who’s ditched his trusty old Subaru N14 like an ex texting “It’s not you, it’s me” and rolled out with a shiny new Ford Fiesta Proto. Known for corner attacks that scare even the sugarcane, and a throttle foot that’s basically a firestarter, Alwi Jr could be the wildcard turning this rally into a rollercoaster of “hold my helmet” moments. Keep your popcorn ready.
In the 2WD category, the Caltex-backed Mansoor Lubega is leading the pack like he’s got a secret stash of turbo fuel, with the ever-consistent and gritty Edward Kirumira (Stabex-sponsored) breathing down his neck like a mosquito at a barbecue. Not far behind, Amir Kavuma is quietly sneaking up, building momentum like a ninja in the night watch out, he’s coming for that crown.
Meanwhile, the CRC Class is a full-on battlefield where young guns clash with the wily veterans. Walter Kibande and Duncan Katumba are holding the fort up top, but Robert Sentongo and Yusuf Babu aren’t giving an inch, while Ahmed Kateete and Serugga Morgan are proving they’re no underdogs more like surprise pythons ready to strike.
And keep your eyes on Kevin Bebeto. After a “what just happened?” performance at the Pearl Rally, this young star is back with a vengeance ready to turn those forgettable moments into headline-worthy stunts. Redemption never looked so fast!
