The Future Of Uganda Motorsport Is In Good Hands
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Let’s be honest, if you’re still doubting the future of Ugandan motorsport, then either you’ve been living on another planet or worse trapped in a mechanics’ waiting bay for three days straight, sipping lukewarm soda and nodding like a car expert while pretending to “tighten your fan belt” with a spoon. Because let me tell you, dear reader, our motorsport future isn’t just bright it’s so blinding even sunglasses from Owino Market can’t handle the glare! We’ve got talent rising through the ranks faster than a boda boda escaping a traffic officer near Clock Tower. These drivers aren’t just skilled they shift gears with the precision of a Kikuubo trader calculating profit margins during a power blackout. Believe me, if you blink, you’ll miss them and if you sneeze, you might find yourself accidentally co-driving. Uganda is not just in the rally game we’re revving through it like we stole the gearbox!
First up, let’s talk about the Ashraf brothers Mohammed Ali Ashraf and Mohammed Anees Ashraf. These boys didn’t just inherit their father’s good looks and possibly his stash of rally overalls they inherited speed the way some kids inherit land titles (only this one comes with turbo and a roll cage). Their legendary dad, Dr. Ahmed Ashraf, the 2008 Uganda National Rally Champion, probably handed them the keys to a Subaru N14 and said, “My sons, go forth and scare your mother.” And scare her they did not just her, but also a few veteran NRC drivers who suddenly started checking their mirrors a little more nervously. Watching the Ashraf boys in action is like watching Fast & Furious live. They don’t drive; they teleport with noise, dust, and a little prayer from spectators. I mean, at this rate, even their family WhatsApp group probably has pace notes and a fuel schedule. Even though the lads are juggling school, exams, and trying not to nap in class after long nights of watching in-car footage, they’ve shown flashes of brilliance. Let’s just say when these boys finally go full-time in the NRC, it won’t be “business as usual.” It’ll be “business unusual, with extra V-Power.”
The fast brothers Mohammed Ali Ashraf and Anees Ali Ashraf pose for a photo during the Kabalega Hoima Rally.
Now let’s shift gears and possibly swap turbos to Yasser Ali Omar a.k.a. Bobo, and his co-driver brother Wazir. First of all, let’s be clear: these are not your average Sunday drivers. These guys don’t drive they levitate. They’ve been spotted overtaking people who were just on their way to the market, minding their business, wondering, “Eh! Was that rally or witchcraft?” Despite piloting what some might politely call a “budget-friendly car” (you know the one it looks humble but screams like it has something to prove), the Omar brothers have been regularly outdriving machines that cost more than an acre in Munyonyo. And if you’re a competitor and you hear that Team Bobo is back for the Pearl of Africa Rally in Mbarara? Just know that your chances of victory have instantly dropped to “miracle territory.” We’re talking “pray, fast, and maybe bribe your gearbox” kind of miracles. Because once Bobo and Wazir get in sync, it’s not a rally anymore it’s a rescue mission for everyone else’s egos.
The blood brothers Ali Omar and Wazir Omar
Ah yes, Kevin Bebeto. The name might sound like he should be headlining a 90s boy band “Coming up next, give it up for Bebeto and the Boost Boys!” but trust me, this kid isn’t here to drop mixtapes. He’s here to drop jaws. In Masaka, while other drivers were out there hydroplaning into banana plantations like it was a farm tour, Bebeto’s Subaru N10 stayed planted like it paid rent on that wet gravel. That car hugged the road tighter than a clingy ex who still knows your Wi-Fi password. And get this he wasn’t just surviving. He was out there thriving, posting top times among seasoned rally veterans who probably had to double-check if their age was slowing them down or if Bebeto was just built different. With just two more events under his belt, we’re predicting his future will be louder than a fully opened anti-lag system inside a cathedral.
The new rookie Kevin Bebeto on the rise (Photo credit Expedition media)
Then comes the son of Abdul Katete the cool, the ice-cold, unbothered, and calculated Ahmed Katete. Fresh off winning the CRC category in Masaka, this man didn’t just win he gave the entire rally fraternity a TED Talk on “How Not To End Up In A Banana Tree.” He basically looked at the chaos around him, sipped metaphorical tea in his helmet, and said, “Gentlemen… please.” While others were out there driving like they’d stolen the car and the police helicopter was overhead, Ahmed stuck to the basics: keep the car on the road, finish the rally, and let the speed junkies handle the bush exploration program. He piloted a classic Subaru GC8 not a spaceship, not a tech-laden rally monster just a timeless beast, driven with IQ levels that could get him a scholarship to Harvard Rally School (if that existed). And sure, he didn’t set the fastest times, but his results screamed louder than a rally fan with a vuvuzela standing on top of a pickup shouting “FLY OVER!” every five seconds. Ahmed didn’t need drama he brought discipline. And in a sport full of fireworks, sometimes it’s the quietest engines that deliver the loudest message.
Fresh off the CRC win Ahmed Katete and codriver Seruga
Now if you haven’t heard of Walter Kibande and his dreadlocked navigator Duncan Katumba, then I’m convinced you’ve been attending cooking competitions instead of rallies. This duo has turned heads and left competitors in dust storms. After two rounds, they’re topping the CRC standings and giving fans reason to scream their lungs out at every stage. Give these guys the right car, and they’ll probably start competing with planes at Entebbe International Airport.
Walter Kibande the CRC leader
Then there’s Robert Sentongo, aka Nkima the guy man, the myth, the purple Subaru whisperer! You’ve probably seen him zooming by in that flashy Subaru N10 that looks like Barney the Dinosaur on steroids. Event by event, Nkima is improving like chapati on a charcoal stove slow start, but once it gets hot, things flip fast! Give this man more seat time and he’ll start overtaking boda bodas in their own lanes. He’s got speed, style, and the kind of confidence only a guy nicknamed Nkima can pull off. Watch this space wonders are coming, and they might just arrive sideways in a purple blur!
Robert Sentongo aka Nkima improving every rally
What a Time to Be Alive
With all this budding talent, I say this with a full chest and a dusty heart: The future of Ugandan motorsport is brighter than a navigator’s notes under stadium lights. Whether it’s the Ashraf legacy, the Omar brothers’ fearlessness, Bebeto’s raw pace, Katete’s strategy, Kibande’s consistency we are in safe, skilled, and sometimes mildly reckless hands. So buckle up, Uganda. The next generation isn’t just coming they’ve already arrived, and they’re flooring it!
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