The NRC Battle Intensifies as Season Enters Final Stretch
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Ladies and gentlemen we are officially way past the halfway mark of the 2025 National Rally Championship! Five of seven rounds are done and dusted, and what do we have? Chaos. Pure, beautiful, petrol-scented chaos.
Here’s the plot twist: Ponsiano “Mafu Mafu” Lwakataka has won four of the five events but somehow… he is not the NRC leader. Yes, you heard me man’s been winning like he’s on a shopping spree, but the receipts aren’t adding up. Instead, topping the charts is none other than Ronald Sebuguzi, the man who hasn’t won a single rally this season but is armed with the deadliest weapon in motorsport: consistency. Sebuguzi is basically the guy who never takes the girl out on Valentine’s Day, never brings flowers, but somehow still stays in the relationship steady, dependable, and frustratingly unshakable. He’s been finishing rallies like a landlord collecting rent: always on time, never missing, no excuses. And now, with 241 points, he’s teaching us all that you don’t need to be flashy, just stubbornly present!
At this point, Lwakataka is only six points behind Sebuguzi, which in rally terms is basically one wrong gearshift, one missed pacenote,Add in Musa Ssegaabwe, the rookie sensation, and suddenly we’ve got ourselves a three-way boxing match where everyone is throwing punches but the referee is untouchable probably because he’s the one holding the stop clock. Musa’s debut season in the NRC is so good that veterans are now double-checking his birth certificate, his passport, and possibly even his primary school report card. Podiums, pace, and only 33.5 points shy of the leader not bad for a fresher who was probably still practicing three-point turns a year ago.
Behind them, Aine Sodo and Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru are fighting to stay relevant like old pop stars trying to trend on TikTok. Sodo’s Evo X is still stretching its muscles it’s like a gym bro who just bought new sneakers but hasn’t figured out the treadmill yet. Duncan, on the other hand, suffered Fort Portal heartbreak after a DNF in the last stage, leaving his fans screaming “banange” so loud you could hear it echo back in Kampala. Meanwhile, Michael Mukula is slowly climbing back after a not-so-good start the man is basically the slow cooker of rallying: throw in the ingredients, wait three hours, and boom something tasty comes out… eventually.
NRC STANDINGS AFTER 5/7 (Top 6)
- 1.Ronald Sebuguzi -241points
- 2.Ponsiano Lwakataka -235points
- Musa Ssegaabwe -207.5points
- Aine Sodo -140.5
- Duncan Mubiru- 138points
- Micheal Mukula Jr- 131points
If you thought the NRC was spicy, the 2WD championship is downright volcanic. Picture this: Mansoor Lubega and Julius Semambo are separated by just one point. One! That’s less than a boda boda parking fee in Kampala, less than the money you find in your pocket after laundry day, and probably less than what it costs to bribe a traffic officer who’s clearly had a long Monday.
Behind them, Hajji Amir Kavuma is cruising safely well, apart from that unforgettable Kayunga incident where he managed to crash in a transport section. Yes, the part of rallying where you’re supposed to just… drive normally. Meanwhile, Edward Kirumira and last year’s champ Ibrahim Lubega are basically fighting ghosts at this point swinging punches at shadows and hoping for the best. The lads in front are giving them zero breathing space, like Kampala landlords at the start of the month: no mercy, no extensions, and definitely no discounts
THE 2wd STANDINGS AFTER 5/7 (Top5)
- Mansoor Lubega -86.5points
- Julious Semambo-85points
- Amir Kavuma- 65.5points
- Edward Kirumira- 60.5points
- Ibrahim Lubega- 52.5points
Now let’s talk CRC. Walter Kibande is leading the pack in an aging Subaru GC8, proving once again that “old is gold”. Paired with his co-driver, the ever-energetic Duncan Katumba, they’re the “Mat & Ko” duo unbeatable, unshakable, and unstoppable… unless, of course, the GC8 decides to throw a tantrum and retire to a scrapyard spa.
Ahmed Kateete has been equally brilliant, even stealing a win in Masaka. He’s hanging by a thread, just three points ahead of Kevin Bebeto. Speaking of Bebeto the young gun everyone thought would storm the CRC crown this year he’s instead been humbly dethroned by mechanical gremlins, misfortune, and possibly a bad karma subscription. One win in five events isn’t the CV he wanted, but hey, he’s still giving it his all (and honestly, we love him for it…
THE CRC STANDINGS AFTER 5/7 ROUNDS
- Walter Kibande -75points
- Ahmeed Kateete-60points
- Kevin Bebeeto- 57points
- Robert Sentongo-40points
- Odeon Tumwebaze-37points
Meanwhile, RobertSentongo a.k.a. Nkima seems to have quietly ghosted the fight after setbacks galore, while Odeon Tumwebaze is busy learning his Altezza like it’s a university course. Rumor has it he might upgrade soon maybe then the fight gets interesting again.
With two rounds left Gulu and Hoima the NRC is still wide open. Every class has a three-horse race, and in rallying, you know what that means: expect heartbreaks, comebacks, and someone probably forgetting to tighten a wheel nut.
But before we hit Gulu, the rally family will gather for a fundraising sprint in Festino City to support Samuel Watendwa, who’s raising funds to upgrade to a more powerful car. Because in rally, we don’t just share the road we share the struggle where need be.
So fans, dust off your flags and vuvuzelas the 2025 NRC is heading for a blockbuster finale. Will Sebuguzi’s consistency hold? Will Lwakataka finally break the leaderboard? Or will rookie Musa pull off the upset of the year? Whatever happens, Ugandan rallying is about to serve us a dish spicier than roadside Rolex with extra chili.
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