Lwakataka Tames Bugerere To Jump Back Into NRC Contention
By Mwambazi Lawrence
In what can only be described as a masterclass in pace, precision, and pure rally madness, motorsport veteran Ponsiano Lwakataka a.k.a the “Mafu Mafu “alongside his co-driver Paul Musazi, piloted their Subaru Impreza N12 “Musota” to a thunderous victory at the Bugerere Stabex EMC Rally held from July 10th to 12th across the spectator -lined roads of Jinja and Bugerere.
The rally, which covered a total of 307.46kms with 154.46km of competitive stages and 153km liaison was anything but a walk in the cane field.
From the very first rev, Lwakataka was on a mission. Like a man possessed, he dominated from Day 1, clocking a total time of 1:27:17.67. But it wasn’t all Sunday drive stuff. Breathing down his neck like a turbocharged mosquito was Hassan Alwi Jr, codriven by Musa Nsubuga, in their fiery Ford Fiesta Proto. The duo kept the chase thrillingly tight, finishing just 27 seconds behind at 1:27:44.91, making it one of the closest battles we’ve seen this season.
Ronald Sebuguzi, another rally warhorse, paired up with Anthony Mugambwa in yet another Ford Fiesta Proto, put up a valiant fight. Despite battling fuel pump gremlins that threatened to end their rally in a puff of vapor, they soldiered on and secured the final podium spot with a time of 1:33:25.
Meanwhile, behind the top three, the road was equally dramatic. Joshua Muwanguzi, Peter Kalule, and Musa Segabwe came in 4th, 5th, and 6th respectively proving that the midfield is no place for the faint-hearted.
A heartbreaker came for crowd favorite Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru. The flamboyant driver had fans roaring when he won the first stage in style, but fate had other plans. A faulty steering rack forced him into temporary retirement. Though he rejoined the rally with characteristic fight, it was too little too late. He limped home in a puzzling 14th position a number no Kikankane fan wants to remember.
In the 2WD Class a category known for both its unpredictability and wheel-to-wheel chaos Samuel Watenwa and Hassan Katerega were the undisputed kings of the dirt. The pair drove their Toyota Corolla FX like it was powered by Red Bull and witchcraft, winning 4 out of 10 stages and finishing with a time of 1:45:53.
Julious Semambo and Jaffer Lukenge cruised into second with a time of 1:49:34, while Ibrahim Lubega and Robert Katabalwa completed the 2WD podium with a time of 1:49:52. Notably, Corolla FXs are becoming the AK-47s of Ugandan rallying reliable, rugged, and wildly popular.
Then came the CRC Class, and with it, came Kevin Bebeto. The rising star, alongside Siraj Kyambade, dominated the category from flag-off to finish. Driving a Subaru Impreza N10 with the confidence of a seasoned pro, He didn’t just win he bullied every single stage into submission, sealing victory in 1:12:03.
Behind him, Odeon Tumwebaze and Hussein Mukuye finished second in their Toyota Altezza (1:30:47), and Ahmed Katete with Morgan Serugga rounded off the top three in a Subaru GC8 (1:32:22).
This was not a rally for the faint-hearted. Dr. Nsereko gave fans an early jolt when he rolled his Toyota RunX during the superspecial stage but in true Hollywood fashion, the car landed back on its feet, and he continued like it was just a morning stretch.
Oscar Ntambi, driving a Subaru Impreza N10 and sponsored by KCB, had the unluckiest start of Day 2 rolling his car just 700 metres into the first stage. The damage was so bad, even his rally spirit retired with the car.
And who could forget Walter Kibande and Duncan Katumba, who attacked a corner a little too enthusiastically, only to find themselves nose-deep in a swamp. They may have missed the finish, but they won the “Best Entry to a Natural Water Feature” award.
Despite all the adrenaline and off-road acrobatics, the event was incident-free in terms of spectator safety thanks to tight organization and marshals who probably deserve a rally medal themselves.
The Bugerere Rally also proved that the passion for motorsport is alive and revving. Thousands of fans turned up from Bugerere, Jinja, and Kampala, with some even camping overnight to catch every dusty second.
The championship moves westward next as drivers head to the scenic but tricky terrains of Fort Portal Tourism City for Round 5 of the UMC Championship. If Bugerere was a war zone, Fort Portal is a rollercoaster through the clouds.
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