SHELL-sponsored crew of Ronald Ssebuguzi and Anthony Mugambwa in Ford Fiesta Proto fought down a gap of one minute 36.5 seconds in the four early morning stages loops of leg 2 on Sunday to emerge victorious at the 2024 UMC Fort Portal Tourism Rally.
They beat early Rally leader Joshua Muwanguzi ‘Omoro Lion’ navigated by Hamza Lwanga in Subaru Impreza N12, who succumbed to their pressure in the day’s second stage of Sewava Kuvumbi (12.55km), after losing a whole minute to eventual rally victors in the 15.2km Mukwano Karmali stage.
Muwanguzi threw his maiden National Rally championship (NRC) win into hot air when the car suspension arm broke, thus could only rejoin the rally with a restart at the last and final stage, Outlook Uganda(5.52km).
A cumulative time penalty of over 20 minutes for the stages he missed completing did the damage. It was sobbing moment for Muwanguzi’s navigator, Hamza Lwanga, who had counted themselves on podium and in a p1 position finish.
Ssebuguzi’s co-driver, Mugambwa explained the challenges the Ford Proto team had to overcome to secure the win.
“It’s not been easy for us to get this win, our right rear suspension bent as we hunted for good stage times, we were just lucky we managed to bring the car into service after limping through three stages,” he said.
NRC Standings Heat Up
The Fort Portal win didn’t only see them end a winless drought in the region but lifted them up on the championship score board, now lying second with 203 points behind current championship leader Dr. Mustapha Mukasa having 224 points.
NRC Leaderboard after 5 rounds
- Dr Mustapha Mukasa – 224 points
- Ronald Ssebuguzi – 203 points
- Jas Mangat – 200 points
Dr Mukasa managed to amass 46 points from the fifth NRC round to push himself ahead on the leader board, with Jas Mangat who missed the event now third place with 200 points, with two NRC round left.
In the Clubman Rally championship (CRC) contention, Musa Ssegaabwe proved mightier as he dominated the class, just as Ibrahim Lubega ‘Pasuwa’ did in the Two-wheel driver (2WD) class.
Jonas Kansiime retired from the rally due to engine failure on Saturday morning in the Harugongo stage.
Royal Excitement at the Rally
This year’s event was blessed by the King of Tooro, his majesty the Omukama Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who for the first time got a feel of racing car when he was driven around by three-time national rally champion, Ronald Ssebuguzi in Ford Fiesta Proto.
With the adrenaline pick up of the moment, the king asked to be allowed to race around the 3.12km super special stage at Kyakaigo Sports Arena, a request that was granted by the organizers, this excited his subjects to cheering him.
He was offered a Subaru Forester to race in under the guidance of Ssebuguzi’s co-driver, Anthony Mugambwa who called notes for him.
With two NRC rounds left, the next event will be held in Northern part of country, Gulu.
Courtesy Photos
