Last weekend, motorsport fans flocked to Mbarara for the Lumala@60 Mum@90 Birthday Rally, and as expected, Ponsiano Lwakataka and co-driver Paul Musazi didn’t just win they devoured the competition. Driving their Subaru Impreza, affectionately nicknamed “Musota”, the duo slithered through the seven-stage rally like it was child’s play, clocking a total time of 1:12:59.
The rally, organized by MPU Club and sponsored by rally legend Moses Lumala, marked the opening round of the 2025 Uganda National Rally Championship. With 37 entries, including Rwandan guests Adolphe Nshimizimana and Regis Remera in a Subaru N10, the event had no shortage of talent or drama.
Lwakataka won two stages, leaving rivals Ronald Sebuguzi (Ford Fiesta Proto) and Yassin Nasser (Ford Fiesta R5) scrambling to keep up. Sebuguzi and his co-driver Anthony Mugambwa claimed second place with a time of 1:15:34, followed by the ecstatic crew of Nasser Mutebi and Steven Bunya in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 (1:16:26).
Meanwhile, 2023 champion Yassin Nasser faced disaster in the 30km Lumala stage when his Ford Fiesta R5’s power steering quit mid-race. “It felt like arm-wrestling a rhino,” Nasser joked after finishing fourth. Spectators were equally amused, with one shouting, “Who needs a gym membership when you’ve got rallying?”
Michael Mukula Jr. and co-driver Siraj Kyambade defied the odds and a 4-minute, 50-second penalty to win the Division 1 category. Driving a Subaru Impreza N14, the duo finished in 1:23:11, just 19 seconds ahead of Aine Sodo and Asuman Mohammed in their Mitsubishi Evo X (1:23:30). Dr Godfrey Nsereko and JB Musisi, piloting a humble Toyota RunX, wrapped up the podium with a time of 1:38:53.
Division 2 was a rollercoaster from start to finish. Musa Segaabwe and co-driver Mathias Kiyegga almost rolled their Mitsubishi Evo 9 in the opening stage but recovered to win their category. Segaabwe described the moment as “a free trial of life flashing before my eyes.”
In second were Hajji Amir Kavuma and Kenneth Kavuma, who clocked 1:34:07 in their Subaru Impreza Hatchback. Mansoor Lubega and Doreen Nabirah secured third in their Toyota Corolla (1:37:19).
Edward Kirumira and Monica Birwinyo were unstoppable in the 2WD category, attacking from the word go to win with a time of 1:31:38 in their Toyota Corolla. Hot on their heels was Hajji Amir Kavuma, enjoying his career-best finish (1:34:07), while Julius Semambo and Jafari Lukenge placed third in their Toyota Sprinter (1:35:54).
The CRC category belonged to Walter Kibande and Duncan Katumba in their Subaru Impreza GC8, who finished in a flawless 54:29.5. Following were Ssentongo Kiggundu and Yusuf Babu (57:28.4) and the Mbarara-based crew of Topher Katera and Noordin Bilal (1:01:04).
Young talent Kevin Bebeto, with co-driver Mwambazi Lawrence, hit a bump—literally—in the first stage, damaging their Subaru N10’s suspension. Despite the setback, they finished fourth, proving resilience is key in motorsport.
The rally wasn’t without its casualties. Peter Kalule had a near roll in the power stage, leaving his car looking like it had gone through a blender. Sadat Negomba wasn’t luckier, rolling his Toyota FX mere meters from the finish.
The Lumala@60 Mum@90 Birthday Rally delivered everything rally fans dream of speed, skill, and sheer unpredictability. With Ponsiano Lwakataka’s dominant start, the 2025 UNRC season promises to be a thrill ride.
As Lwakataka himself declared, “This snake is just getting started. Bring on the next rally!”
