Ponsiano Lwakataka’s ‘Musota’ Strikes  in Mbarara

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 managed to finish 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 any 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’s just getting started. Bring on the next rally!”

Southern Motor Club Hosts The 3rd Round of Enduro Championship at Evillass, Kalisizo

18th-August-2024 Kalisizo. Last weekend the Southern Motor Club showcased an exhilarating display of endurance and skill in the 3rd round of the Enduro Championship held at Evillass, Kalisizo , their home turf. The event attracted 18 entries, with competitors navigating a challenging 5.5 km track for two and a half hours, pushing both their machines and themselves to the limit.

Yassin Semakula emerged as the star of the event, clinching the overall victory with an impressive 17 laps on his KTM bike. His exceptional performance outpaced Oscar Massango from South Africa, who managed 16 laps on his Yamaha, securing the second spot. Matt Lech rounded off the podium positions with a commendable 13 laps on a Husqvarna TE 300, showcasing his skills in a highly competitive field.

In the Junior 1 category, Jonathan Katende demonstrated outstanding talent by taking the top spot, completing 12 laps on his KTM 65 SX. He narrowly edged out Adam Musoke, who also completed 12 laps but fell short in the final tally. Heiden Kalisa secured the third position in the Junior 1 class, finishing with 10 laps.

The J1 Ladies category, featuring three determined entrants, saw Abigail Katende claim victory with 8 laps on her KTM 65 SX. Joy Norah Akao followed closely with 7 laps, while Faith Deedan Angel completed the podium in third place with 6 laps. All three competitors displayed remarkable perseverance and skill on their KTM 65 SX bikes.

The Junior 2 class witnessed a fierce battle, with Jason Burrows taking the win after completing 11 laps. Keith Deedan Aine followed in second place with 9 laps, while Sasha Nagaddya managed 5 laps to secure the third spot.

Class 1 featured a dominant performance by South Africa’s Oscar Massango, who completed 16 laps to emerge as the class winner. Francis Walusimbi finished second with 12 laps, and Joseph Dickson Sebagala secured third place with 11 laps. This category featured a smaller field but no shortage of competitive spirit.

In Class 2, Yassin Semakula continued his dominance, winning the category with 17 laps on his KTM. Matt Lech finished second with 13 laps on a Husqvarna TE 300, and Sula Kalema rounded off the podium with 10 laps.

The 3rd round of the Enduro Championship at E-villass, Kalisizo, proved to be a thrilling event, showcasing the best of endurance racing. With close competition across all categories, the Southern Motor Club once again demonstrated its commitment to promoting motorsport excellence in the region. Fans and participants alike are already eagerly looking forward to the next round, where new challenges and rivalries are sure to emerge.