Ugandan Rally Fans Roll to Tanzania as Yasin Nasser Hunts for Historic ARC Title
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Just yesterday morning at the Moil Petro Station, you’d think it was a wedding convoy, but no it was Uganda’s rally fans boarding the Friends Coaches Express to Destiny. Destination: Morogoro, Tanzania. Purpose: to shout themselves hoarse for Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba, the Moil crew carrying the Ugandan flag and the nation’s very fragile blood pressure.
The mission is simple bring back the African Rally Championship (ARC) title that Uganda last saw when the legendary Charles Muhangi, codriven by Steven Byaruhanga, snatched it in 1999. Since then? Eh! The only titles Uganda has been collecting are in Tuk Tuk racing from Kibuye roundabout.
Now all eyes are on Yasin “Moil Missile” Nasser and Ali “Map Master” Katumba, strapped into their Ford Fiesta R5. They lead the ARC standings, but only by the thickness of a rally note page. For them to win:
- Finish 1st or 2nd
- And pray that Kenya’s Samman Vohra forgets where the brake pedal is and “falters.”
And let’s be honest, in rally speak “falters” means anything from rolling into the bush, to overshooting a corner, to parking by the roadside and saying: “This stage has too many stones, I quit.”
But the Morogoro entry list is no playground. Ten ARC-registered crews, six R5s, four Group Ns, and all of them itching to scatter Nasser’s dream.
Uganda’s biggest headache? Kenya. They’ve brought their whole rally zoo:
- Samman Vohra / Drew Sturrock – Skoda Fabia Evo. Basically Nasser’s shadow.
- Karan Patel / Tauseef Khan – back from mechanical ICU with a rebuilt R5.
- Arkif Virani / Zahir Shah – another Skoda Fabia. At this point, Kenya should just rename Nairobi “Skoda City.”
And then there’s Tanzania, the home lions:
- Ahmed Huwel / Roheet Solanki – Toyota GR Yaris. New car, fresh trouble.
- Altaaf Munge / Victor Jackson – Ford Fiesta R5.
- Prince Charles Nyerere & brother Charles Nyerere – Mitsubishi EvoX. Two brothers, one car, and hopefully no family meetings mid-stage.
Even India and Burundi have sent their warriors. From India comes Naveen Puligilla / Musa Sharif in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, and from Burundi, Mohamed Abbas / Christophe Bigirimana in a Subaru Impreza.
But wait if you thought that was enough, the Tanzanian local heroes have lined up too: reigning champ Manveer Birdi / Ravi Chana, Gurpal Sandhu / Dave Sihoka, and Randeep Singh / Manmeet Birdi all ready to make sure no outsider walks away with bragging rights easily.
Back home, the Ugandan fans have promised maximum vibes. Already on the Friends Coaches, reports indicate that by Jinja they had finished the first round of vuvuzela rehearsals. By Iganga, someone had started composing a Luganda remix of “We Are the Champions.” And by the time they cross Busia border, we expect at least two drums broken, three whistles lost, and one fan declaring himself “Nasser’s co-driver number two.”
So as Uganda holds its breath. From the silent prayers whispered in living rooms back home, one dream unites the nation: to see the Ugandan flag flying high once again on Africa’s grandest rally stage. Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba are not just chasing points they are chasing history, the kind that will echo far beyond the finish line. Whatever the outcome, their courage has already ignited a fire in every Ugandan heart. But should they return with that ARC crown, it won’t just be a victory for two men in a rally car it will be a victory for every fan who dared to believe that, 26 years later, Uganda could roar again.
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