A Glimpse into the CMC Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally 2025
The sixth round of the Uganda National Rally Championship (NRC), the CMC Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally 2025, is set to take place this weekend in Gulu District. The event is expected to play a decisive role in determining the champions across all categories NRC, 2WD, and CRC as the season draws closer to its conclusion.
With five rounds completed and only two remaining, the championship battle remains tight. Ronald Sebuguzi and co-driver Anthony Mugambwa currently lead the NRC standings with 241 points, maintaining their advantage through consistency rather than outright wins. Despite not securing a single event victory this season, Sebuguzi’s steady performance has kept him at the top.
Close behind is Ponsiano Lwakataka, who has dominated the season with four wins out of five events, accumulating 235 points. Together with co-driver Paul Musazi, the pair will be competing in Gulu for the first time, determined to close the gap and potentially take the championship lead.
In third place is the young crew of Musa Ssegaabwe and Mathias Kiyegga with 207.5 points. The crew, competing in their debut NRC season after winning last year’s CRC title, has impressed with their consistent finishes. They are already preparing for an exciting 2026 season where they plan to unveil a new N5-spec car.
Further down the standings, Aine Sodo lies fourth with 140.5 points, Duncan Mubiru fifth with 138 points, and Michael Mukula sixth with 131 points, although Mukula will not participate in this event.
The rally will take place on Friday and Saturday, a shift from the traditional Saturday-Sunday format. The schedule has been adjusted to align with the Gulu City Carnival, where the rally will serve as a major highlight of the weekend festivities.
This year’s stages will follow routes similar to those used in 2024, with a few modifications. The familiarity of the terrain is expected to result in higher speeds and tighter competition as drivers aim to maximize points in the final stretch of the season.
The 2WD Championship remains one of the closest contests this year, with only 1.5 points separating the top two crews. Julious Semambo and Jaffer Lukenge currently lead the class with 86.5 points, followed closely by Mansoor Lubega and Bukenya Roald with 85 points.
Both crews head into Gulu with a clear objective to secure victory and strengthen their title chances. In third place is Haji Amir Kavuma (65.5 points), followed by Edward Kirumira (60.5 points), Ibrahim Lubega (52.5 points), and Haji Senyonjo (33 points). Last year’s 2WD champion, Ibrahim Lubega, will be looking to bounce back after a challenging season.
The Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) continues to showcase emerging talent. Leading the standings is Walter Kibande alongside Rasta Farian codriver Duncan Katumba, with 75 points. The pair have displayed remarkable consistency, maintaining their position at the top since the season began.
In second place are Ahmed Kateete and Morgan Serugga with 60 points, while Kevin Bebeeto and Siraj Kyambade are third with 57 points. Bebeeto, who has shown great promise this season, remains optimistic about closing the gap in the remaining rounds. The CRC title race is still open, and the Gulu round will play a significant role in shaping the final standings.
A total of 27 crews have confirmed their entries for the rally, featuring both championship contenders and strong independent competitors. Among them are notable names such as Duncan Mubiru, Omar Dauda, and Oscar Ntambi, who are all expected to add depth and excitement to the event.
