And so, ladies and gentlemen… we find ourselves suspended in the drama of a sport that defies logic and celebrates the impossible. We are halfway through the 2025 Uganda National Rally Championship, and the script has torn itself up and rewritten its own tale again. Four events. Three different regions. Two dominant warriors. And one unrelenting question: Who, among these gladiators of gravel, will rise to etch their name into motorsport immortality?
Ponsiano Lwakataka has won three out of four rallies yes, three! is not even leading the championship. It is as if fate has whispered, “Not yet, my child… the story must thicken.”
Round 1: Lumala @60, Mum @90
The season kicked off with fireworks in Mbarara not the sky kind, but the gravel-flinging, engine-screaming, tyre-melting kind that only rally cars can deliver. This wasn’t just any rally; it was the traditional chaos generator, the mood-setter, the mechanical hunger games of Ugandan motorsport.,True to legend Ponsiano Lwakataka Mafu Mafu! a man not of this earth but of another rally realm entirely. With co-driver Paul Musazi, lit up the stages in their fire-breathing Subaru Impreza N12B. The duo outpaced all 37 crews, proving that Mbarara is indeed his spiritual home. Behind him, Ronald Sebuguzi and Anthony Mugambwa quietly tiptoed into second place like two gentlemen at a wedding polite, steady, and completely drama-free. While others were doing acrobatics in banana plantations and collecting shrubs as souvenirs, Sebuguzi and Mugambwa drove like they were on a Sunday road trip no stunts, no shouting, no sparks just clean lines and quiet confidence.
Then came Nasser Mutebi and Steven Bunya, who muscled their way onto the podium like action movie stars arriving late to the premiere. Their heroic drive had everything: dust, near misses, and possibly a few moments that required adult diaper but hey, third place is third place!
In the 2WD class, Edward Kirumira and Monica Birwinyo took their trusty Toyota Corolla out for a spin and by “spin,” we mean they drove it so well it practically earned a diploma in rally school. Their Corolla isn’t the flashiest ride on the block, but it’s got heart, grit, and the kind of reliability that makes mechanics smile and competitors nervous. These two have been so consistent this season, It’s safe to say their Corolla runs on pure determination… and perhaps a secret Ugandan coffee blend.
CRC newbies Walter Kibande and Duncan Katumba, fresh off their autocross training wheels, crashed the party in a Subaru GC8, winging it with style and snagging their first win like pros despite sometimes forgetting which pedal does what. Hey, we all start somewhere.
Round 2: The Bwera Bistro SMC Rally
Round 2 transformed the Masaka-Sembabule route into a mud wrestling championship. Slippery, sloppy, and a shoe-wrecker for sure. But for Lwakataka and Musazi, the mud was their magic potion. They slid through the slippery mess like they were born in it mud in every nook and cranny but victory in their hands.
Sebuguzi and Mugambwa kept their silver streak alive, consistent as rain in April, possibly thanks to secret rain boots blessed by a rally shaman. Musa Segaabwe and Mathias Kiyega celebrated their first NRC podium like kids who just discovered cake for breakfast
In 2WD, Ahmed Senyonjo and Lubowa Charles glided through the mud as if it were a spa day, grabbing class honours with flair. But then the CRC class gave us a bit of drama when Ahmed Katete and Morgan Serugga grabbed their first win, proving you can rise to the top even if your car sounds like it’s auditioning for a mud-themed monster movie. Meanwhile, Kevin Bebeto showed blazing pace… until the infamous Nabugabo mud pit decided to swallow his momentum whole. Legend has it the mud pit is still laughing.
Round 3: Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally
The Pearl Rally, doubling as the second ARC round, was supposed to be a showdown but what actually showed up was pure chaos, like a family reunion where everyone forgot the seating plan. Kenyan giants stormed into Ugandan territory and, well, things got spicy. Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan emerged victorious after Samman Vohra’s Skoda Fabia R5 decided it had enough and nosedived into retirement faster than you can say “mechanic, please!” Meanwhile, Ugandan fans got hit with heartbreak like a badly aimed pothole.
Lwakataka’s Subaru engine expired not once, but twice rumor has it the car was heard whispering, “Banange, I tried,” right before throwing in the towel.
Duncan Mubiru, coming back from a sabbatical probably spent binge-watching rally reruns, roared back to win the NRC class and reminded everyone he’s still in this game. Sebuguzi had a differential issue on Day 1 but somehow limped to 9th overall clearly proving that even with a wonky drivetrain, determination (and some luck) can get you far.
In the 2WD class, Mansoor Lubega and Bukenya Kesh bulldozed their way to dominance, while the Kavumas returned with yet another podium because why break a streak? And in CRC, Kibande/Katumba took the win, followed by Kiggundu Sentongo/Yusuf Babu and Katete/Serugga, making it look like a well-rehearsed rally dance troupe out there.
Round 4: Bugerere EMC Rally 202
Back in top gear, Lwakataka and Musazi put on a rallying masterclass at the Bugerere rally likefine wine, they only get better with age. They zoomed their way to victory and shot up to 2nd in the standings with 175 points just a measly 12 behind leader Sebuguzi, who’s hanging on tighter than your favorite pair of jeans after a buffet (187 pts).
Hassan Alwi Jr., returning from a break longer than your phone’s “last seen” on WhatsApp, showed up in a shiny new Ford Fiesta Proto and snagged 2nd place like he forgot how to lose. Meanwhile, Sebuguzi had fuel pump drama that would make any mechanic sweat but still clung to 3rd by sheer luck, grit, and maybe some divine intervention.
In 2WD, Samuel Watendwa and Hassan Katerega pulled off a surprise win in their trusty Toyota FX proof that sometimes, the underdogs just want it more .Mansoor Lubega and Bukenya Kesh wrestled their Toyota corola through technical gremlins to claim second, while Ibrahim Lubega politely wrapped up the podium like the reliable uncle who shows up with snacks.
And then there was CRC, where Kevin Bebeto was basically the rally boss winning every single stage and leaving second-placed Odeon Tumwebaze and Hussein Mukuye 18 minutes behind. Meanwhile, Katete and Serugga kept doing their thing, snagging 3rd and comfortably sitting 2nd in the championship steady as ever, like your favorite playlist on repeat. This event however had more twists than a rally hairpin! Dr. Godfrey Nsereko rolled his Runx during the super special, while Oscar Ntambi and Pius Lugya flipped their Subaru just meters into Stage 1 Day 2 talk about making an entrance!
CRC leader Walter Kibande tried rally skiing into a swamp, cutting his lead from 30 to 13 points. Haruna Kataza and Isaac Lumu joined the party, giving that corner the new nickname: “Swamp of No Return.”
Mid-Season Standings
- Ronald Sebuguzi 187
- Ponsiano Lwakataka- 175
- Musa Ssegaabwe -165.5
- Duncan Mubiru -140
- Didas Matsiko- 126
2WD Category
- Mansoor Lubega – 66.5
- Julious Semambo- 61.5
- Edward Kirumira -60.5
CRC Category
- Walter kibande -55
- Ahmeed Katete-50
- Kevin Bebeto- 42
As we thunder into Round 5 in Fort Portal, history is lurking like that nosy neighbour who never misses a thing. For almost a decade, whoever wins Mbarara magically turns into the championship’s crowned king or queen. Lwakataka won Mbarara this time but guess what? He’s never actually finished Fort Portal. Not once. That rally is basically his personal Bermuda Triangle.
Sebuguzi, on the other hand, usually survives Fort Portal kind of like your uncle at a family wedding who’s had one too many and somehow makes it to the end, wobbling but standing. Well, except that one time he rolled his Evo X at the flying finish with Leon Senyange talk about going out with a bang (and a somersault).
So, the million-dollar questions: Will Sebuguzi keep his nerves and his car intact? Can Lwakataka finally figure out Fort Portal’s secret password and make it to the finish line without turning his car into modern art? Or will some sneaky dark horse gallop out of nowhere, steal the spotlight, and leave everyone wondering what just happened?
