Ugandan rally driver Oscar Ntambi and co-driver Uthumaan Mohammed delivered a composed and determined performance to win the ARC2 category at the legendary Safari Rally Kenya, one of the most punishing events on the global rally calendar and a round of the FIA African Rally Championship.
Competing in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, the KCB Bank–sponsored crew adopted a smart strategy from the outset survive the brutal terrain and ensure a finish at what is widely regarded as the world’s toughest rally. From the opening day, Ntambi and Mohammed showed discipline and maturity, resisting the temptation to chase outright pace while many competitors pushed harder and paid the price on the unforgiving Kenyan stages.
Their journey to victory was far from straightforward. On the second day of the rally, the crew suffered a broken driveshaft before encountering further trouble on the Kedong 1 stage, where they bent the rear suspension of their Evo X. The damage cost them valuable time, but the determined duo carefully nursed the car through the stage and managed to reach service. Their team worked quickly to repair the car and send them back into the rally.
From that moment on, Ntambi enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run to the finish. The Ugandan driver ultimately completed the rally 22nd overall with a total time of 5:11:08.0, approximately one hour and 55 minutes behind the overall winner. The rugged Evo X, a machine renowned for its durability in extreme rally conditions, proved perfectly suited to the rough and unpredictable Safari terrain.
The result gives Ntambi a strong start in the 2026 African Rally Championship standings as the series now shifts focus to the second round scheduled for 8–10 May 2026 in the western region of Uganda.
Another Ugandan crew, Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba, also displayed resilience during the rally. Driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2, the pair fought their way back to finish 28th overall after an early setback on the opening day forced them to retire and rejoin the rally under super rally regulations on day two.
It was, however, a rally of mixed fortunes for the Ugandan contingent. The crew of Duncan Mubiru, popularly known as Kikankane, alongside co-driver Joseph Kamya, endured a particularly challenging outing. Their troubles began on the opening day when their car became stuck in deep mud, forcing them to restart the rally the following day. Further drama followed when they broke a rear suspension but managed to limp back to service for repairs. Unfortunately, their campaign came to an end on the final day after a shattered windscreen forced them to retire.
Meanwhile, in the premier ARC1 category, Kenyan crew Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan dominated their class to claim victory in a Škoda Fabia R5. Despite battling persistent overheating issues throughout the rally, the pair controlled the pace to secure maximum points an ideal start to their 2026 championship campaign after a frustrating season last year.
With the opening round complete, attention now turns to the next stop of the African Rally Championship, which will bring the continent’s top rally drivers to Uganda in May for what promises to be another thrilling chapter in the 2026 season.
