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From a long season of highs and heartbreaks, the African Rally Championship now boils down to one weekend, one rally, and two rival crews. By sunset on Sunday, September 21st, 2025, the continent will crown a new champion.

The contenders? Uganda’s pride, Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba, versus Kenya’s rising force, Samman Vohra and Drew Sturrock. It’s East Africa’s ultimate showdown, and the battleground is none other than Tanzania’s Mkwawa Rally.

The route stretches 326.44 kilometers, a mix of 181.59 km competitive stages and 144.85 km liaison, designed to punish both man and machine. The Serengeti stageat29.15 km the longest of the rally will be repeated three times, while the shortest, the 11.91 km Kilimanjaro stage, is also set to feature three times.

Action begins this evening at 16:06 with the 4.70 km Mkwawa qualifying stage, which will decide start order. Saturday promises to be the war zone, with six brutal stages in store, before Sunday’s three-stage dash to the finish.

While all eyes are fixed on Nasser and Vohra, a handful of determined challengers are ready to disrupt the script. But make no mistake this fight is personal. For Nasser and Katumba, victory would mark a historic first African title for Uganda. For Vohra and Sturrock, it’s a chance to seize Kenya’s next great rallying chapter.

The tension is thick, the engines are primed, and the dust is about to rise. Africa’s motorsport destiny will be written in Tanzania and only one crew will stand tallest.

“And here he comes… Samuel Watendwa! The man who turned a Toyota FX into a legend, who made a humble machine roar against giants, who now stands at the gates of destiny…”

If ever there was a perfect introduction for Samuel Watendwa, it would be ahead of the much-anticipated fundraising sprint on 21st September 2025 at Festino Cite Racing Track in Mukono. His journey is more than racing it is a story of resilience, passion, and unwavering belief.

For over a decade, Watendwa has been a familiar name in Uganda’s motorsport circles. His commitment, consistency, and drive have earned him the admiration of fans and respect of fellow competitors. On the 21st of September, Mukono will host a dual-purpose event the 2nd Round of the National Sprint Championship and a grand fundraising drive to help Watendwa acquire the rally car of his dreams, a Subaru Impreza N14.

Watendwa began his rally career in 2013 with a Toyota Celica 185. Two years later, he upgraded to a Toyota Corona single door before settling into the Toyota FX that has since defined his legacy. For nine years, that FX has carried him through challenges, victories, and unforgettable moments. Alongside co-driver Steven Bunya, Watendwa achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the 2019 WD Championship, proving that determination can overcome limitations.

Yet, every motorsport fan knows the reality Watendwa has been competing with a machine far past its prime. His Toyota FX, though iconic, has been outmatched by modern rally cars, making his achievements even more extraordinary. The time has now come for him to step into the next chapter, and that chapter is written in the shape of a Subaru Impreza N14 a car that will give him the platform to fully showcase his talent.

The upcoming sprint in Mukono is more than a race. It is an opportunity for fans, fellow drivers, and the wider motorsport community to rally together in support of one of their own. It is a call to invest in potential, to recognize a driver whose determination has inspired many, and to help him transition from battling against the odds to competing on equal ground.

When Samuel Watendwa finally sits behind the wheel of a Subaru N14, it will not only mark a personal triumph but also a defining moment for Ugandan rallying. The engines will roar louder, the stages will thrill even more, and the legacy of one of the sport’s most resilient drivers will continue to grow.

After 26 long years, it finally looks like it might be coming home. With just days to go before the fifth and final round of the 2025 African Rally Championship (ARC) in Morogoro, Tanzania, Ugandan hopes are sky-high. Leading the charge is none other than Uganda’s dynamic duo Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba  who remain at the top of the championship standings.

Preparations at the Moil Rally Team camp are in overdrive, with every nut and bolt being checked, every plan tightened, and no stone left unturned. The mission is clear: bring the African crown back to Uganda for the first time since the late Charles Muhangi’s legendary 1999 triumph in the Subaru Impreza famously nicknamed Ekitaguriro.

For Nasser, the mathematics are simple but demanding   a first or second-place finish in Morogoro will secure him the continental title. Yet, as every rally fan knows, nothing is ever guaranteed in motorsport. Standing in his way are strong challengers: Kenya’s Karan Patel (if he makes the start after missing the previous round in Burundi) and fellow Kenyan Samman Vohra, who has shown blistering pace this season. There’s also the improving Ahmed Huwel, fresh from an upgrade to a Toyota Yaris, though his threat is considered less immediate.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere among Ugandan rally fans is reaching fever pitch. From Kampala to Arua, from Jinja to Masaka, buses are being booked and pockets are being emptied as passionate supporters prepare to descend on Tanzania in a sea of black, yellow, and red. For them, it’s more than just a rally  it’s history in the making.

Should Yasin Nasser hold his nerve and steer his machine across the finish line in Morogoro within the top two, Uganda will celebrate its first African Rally Championship crown of the millennium. After two decades of waiting, the dream is alive, and the nation is ready.

This time, it just might be coming home.

We are well past the halfway mark of the 2025 Uganda National Rally Championship, with five of seven rounds already complete and what a rollercoaster it has been! In a twist that has left fans both astonished and delighted, Ponsiano Lwakataka, who has won four of the five events so far, is still not the NRC leader. Instead, consistency king Ronald Sebuguzi holds the top spot, despite not winning a single round.

Lwakataka started the season in dazzling fashion, clinching victories in the opening rounds of Mbarara and Masaka. A major setback struck at the Pearl of Africa Rally, where an engine failure forced him out early, but he returned with a vengeance, winning the Bugerere Stabex EMC Rally and, for the first time, finishing strong at the UMC Fort Portal Tourism City Rally. Ponsiano now lurks just six points behind Sebuguzi, setting up a nail-biting finish for the remaining rounds in Gulu and Hoima.

Sebuguzi, last year’s runner-up, has been the embodiment of reliability this season. Finishing all five rounds so far, he started with two 2nd-place finishes in Mbarara and Masaka, then slipped to 7th at the Pearl of Africa Rally before bouncing back with 3rd in Bugerere and 2nd in Fort Portal. His steady accumulation of points has him perched at the top with 241 points.

In third place, rookie sensation Musa Ssegaabwe has made a remarkable debut in the NRC after being promoted from the CRC class. With podium finishes including a strong performance at the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally, Ssegaabwe trails Sebuguzi by just 33.5 points, keeping him firmly in contention for the championship crown. Other notable performances include Aine Sodo in 4th, Duncan Mubiru hampered by a DNF at Fort Portal in 5th, and Michael Mukula steadily recovering from early-season setbacks to lie in 6th.

The 2WD battle is equally thrilling. Mansoor Lubega leads by a single point over Julius Semambo, making every stage a potential decider. Lubega has impressed since upgrading to a Toyota Corolla, winning Fort Portal after a minor setback in Kayunga. Semambo, familiar with his Toyota Sprinter, continues to improve with every rally. Hajji Amir Kavuma remains steady, while Edward Kirumira and last year’s 2WD champion Ibrahim Lubega face challenges that have left them trailing in 4th and 5th, respectively.

In the CRC class, Walter Kibande continues to dominate with three wins out of five rounds, his partnership with Duncan Katumba proving formidable. Ahmed Kateete is keeping pressure high, narrowly ahead of young Kevin Bebeto, who has managed one win but remains determined to shake up the standings. Robert Sentongo (Nkima) has struggled with multiple setbacks, while Odeon Tumwebaze steadily adapts to his Toyota Alteza, hinting at a potential upgrade soon.

As the championship heads into its penultimate round in Gulu, the title races in each class remain wide open. The top crews are not backing down, promising fans two more rounds of unpredictable, adrenaline-fueled action.

And here… ladies and gentlemen… comes a man who drives not merely with his hands, nor only with his feet… but with his soul. A man whose name is not written in ink, but carved into the very gravel of Uganda’s rally stages. For more than two decades, he has been both the hurricane and the calm after it. He has been the storm that others feared… and the sunshine that the fans adored. You do not watch him drive  you survive him. You do not follow his story  you endure it.

This is Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka… a force of nature in human form. He has tasted glory. He has faced ruin. He has fought his way back from the depths. And still… still he thunders on! Against the odds, against the rivals, against the very laws of physics  he writes chapters that no author dares imagine. He is Uganda’s plot twist on four wheels… and if you are on the stage when he’s coming… you had better pray you are not in his way.”

In 1998, young Ponsiano decided to join motorsport, but instead of rallying like a normal human, he picked motocross a sport where your bones apply for early retirement and your X-rays learn your name. After two years of bouncing around like a ragdoll on an energy drink overdose, his skeleton filed a formal complaint. In 2000, he moved to rallying, figuring it’s better when the car, not his spine, takes most of the abuse.

His first chariot? A humble Toyota Levin, bought for 3 million shillings from Ismail Lule — “just give me something that moves.” With the late Sgt. Famba by his side, he began his very first rally dead last out of 40 cars. Three days later, he was in 3rd. No sponsors. No big budget. Just talent, nerve, and a streak of madness that would one day terrify Africa’s fastest

2001 brought him a Subaru Legacy that treated rally finishes like bad relationships out of 10 events, it only completed one. In 2002, he upgraded to a Subaru GC8 and joined forces with George Semakula. Their rise was fast: 11th in 2002, 3rd, then 2nd, and finally Champions of Uganda in 2005. Suspicion grew. Scrutineers tore the car apart, searching for hidden magic. They found nothing but steel and spirit. One whispered, ‘Perhaps we should scan their brains instead.’ Because when a car is ordinary but results extraordinary, the truth lies beyond the machine it lies in the heart of the driver.”

2006 — the road is never kind. In Akright Estates, a tree chose a tragic fate, stepping right into the path of Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka’s car. Nature tried to stop the storm, and nature lost.

2007 — a challenge issued by Ronald Sebuguzi, confident, bold, eager to ‘teach’ the master. But when Mafu Mafu returned, he wasn’t just back  he was unstoppable, winning five out of six rallies, leaving Sebuguzi clutching his steering wheel and Googling ‘how to unchallenge someone politely.’

That same year, the Pearl of Africa Rally saw Zimbabwe’s Conrad Rautenbach roll in, shiny and proud in a Subaru N10. By the end, Ponsiano’s trusty old GC8 had humbled the star so thoroughly that rumor has it Conrad’s pride is still lost somewhere between the border and the dust.”

 “2008 — a passing of the torch, or so it seemed. Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka handed the keys to his wife, Rose. One might expect caution, a gentle touch. But no. Rose embraced the Mafu Mafu spirit with fire and fury, tearing through the stages to finish as the best national crew in the Pearl Rally. The lesson was clear: marry a Lwakataka, and you marry speed itself.” 

“2010 — a championship duel for the ages. Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka and Susan Muwonge locked in a fierce battle that stretched to the very last second. But fate intervened  his engine staged a protest, silencing the roar when it mattered most. Yet true champions rise again. In 2011, he exacted sweet revenge, claiming the KCB Pearl Rally title with undeniable authority. The following year, 2012, brought a rivalry with Jas Mangat so fierce, so relentless, that both of them finishing the same rally was as rare as a boda boda with working indicators  a spectacle the fans could only dream of witnessing.”

2014  the year the road grew dark. Prison bars held Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka, a man who swears his innocence but whose spirit refused to be caged. Two years later, in 2016, the roar of the engines welcomed him home. Just two weeks after his release, behind the wheel of a car christened Manyi Ga Bantu  ‘Power of the People’  he stormed the Mbarara Rally to a breathtaking 2nd place finish. A testament: you can imprison the man, but you cannot imprison his speed.”

2019 — the year the beast was unleashed. Thanks to the passion of his fans, Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka took the wheel of a Subaru N12b, a car with a storied past as Jas Mangat’s own. At his very first rally with the beast, he roared to 3rd overall. The competition? Suddenly looking over their shoulders a little more often, realizing the hunt had truly begun.”

“2022 — the season of dreams, the championship within reach. Two rounds to go, and Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka was the man to beat. But fate had other plans. Behind bars, yet unbowed, he still led from his prison cell  a champion in spirit if not in freedom. Then, in the final act, Byron Rugomoka surged forward, snatching the title like a thief in the night, while Mafu Mafu plotted his inevitable return. Because legends don’t fade  they roar back louder.”

Four events into the season, and the roar of Ponsiano ‘Mafu Mafu’ Lwakataka and Paul Musazi’s victories have become a thunderclap across the rally landscape. Competitors are drenched in sweat, like boda riders caught at a relentless checkpoint, hearts pounding, hopes fading. The fans? Their screams shake the very earth beneath the tires. And the trophy shelf? It’s no longer just a shelf  it’s a monument crying out for expansion.

This is no mere driver. This is a living saga, a plot twist carved into the dusty roads of Uganda. The architect of shattered dreams and stolen glory. A man who has faced down nature’s fury, rivals’ wrath, and even the cold bars of confinement  only to return, time and again, faster, fiercer, unstoppable.

Ponsiano Lwakataka is not just racing against opponents; he is racing against fate itself. And in this relentless pursuit, one truth remains unshaken: legends don’t fade. They roar back, louder than ever.”

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The motorsport spotlight in Uganda has once again shone on veteran rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka and his co-driver Paul Musazi, who have been crowned winners of the Fortebet Real Star Award for the month of July in the motorsport category.

The prestigious recognition follows their outstanding victory in the Bugerere Stabex EMC Rally, which was the fourth round of the 2024 National Rally Championship (NRC). The rally, known for its dusty terrain and technical stages, attracted top competitors from across the country, but it was Lwakataka and Musazi who emerged supreme, cementing their reputation as one of the most formidable duos in the sport.

Their Bugerere triumph was a key turning point in this year’s championship race. The win earned them valuable points, pushing them into second place on the NRC leaderboard with 175 points, a narrow 12-point gap behind current leader Ronald Sebuguzi. This has intensified the title battle, with the top contenders now separated by just a handful of points as the season moves toward its climax.

Speaking after receiving the award, Lwakataka expressed gratitude to his team and supporters, emphasizing that the journey to the top has been a combination of hard work, experience, and determination. “Winning the Bugerere Rally was a special moment for us,” he said. “It reminded everyone that we are still in the fight for the championship, and this award motivates us even more for the next rounds.”

Motorsport fans are now eagerly awaiting the fifth NRC event, set to take place from 22nd to 24th August in the districts of Fort Portal and Kyenjojo. This rally is expected to be a defining moment in the season, as the western terrain could shake up the leaderboard and determine who has the upper hand heading into the final stretch of the championship.

The 2024 NRC season has already delivered thrilling action, with experienced drivers like Sebuguzi and Lwakataka going head-to-head while young challengers like Musa Ssegaabwe continue to push the limits. With only a few events left, all eyes will be on Lwakataka and Musazi to see if they can maintain their momentum, close the gap, and potentially reclaim the top spot in their quest for national glory.

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: Shell V-Power 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 Stabex EMC Rally 2025

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

1.Ronald Sebuguzi 187

2.Ponsiano Lwakataka- 175

3.Musa Ssegaabwe -165.5

4.Duncan Mubiru -140

5.Didas Matsiko- 126

2WD Category

1.Mansoor Lubega – 66.5

2.Julious Semambo- 61.5

3. Edward Kirumira -60.5

CRC Category

1.Walter kibande -55

2.Ahmeed Katete-50

3.Kevin Bebeto- 42

As we thunder into Round 5 at Fort Portal, history is lurking like that nosy neighbor 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?