Duncan Dominates in Gulu as Sebuguzi Inches Closer to the NRC Title

The CMC Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally 2025  oh yes, the one that had everyone talking is finally done and dusted. And guess who’s smiling all the way to the podium? None other than Duncan Mubiru, codriven by Joseph Kamya, in their Ford Fiesta Proto, finishing in 1:04:10.

When Kikankane inherited the lead from Hassan Alwi Jr on Day 1, he treated it like a dowry  never to be returned, even if negotiations reopened. From there, it was full attack mode as the duo tamed dust, ditches, and divine distractions to seal a well-earned victory.

Behind him, Ronald Sebuguzi and Anthony Mugambwa came flying in with their Ford fiesta Proto  clocking 1:05:44  a performance so smooth and consistent that other drivers have started calling him “Mr. Steady Hands. Sebuguzi drove like a man balancing a cup of tea on his dashboard  calm, calculated, and completely unbothered by the chaos around him. His lines were clean, his pace steady, and his proto purred like it had just come from confession. With that result, Sebuguzi’s championship lead has now stretched longer than a village meeting where everyone must speak  and unless someone brings drama worthy of a Nollywood twist in the final round, the 2025 title might as well be engraved with his name already, bold font and all.

Aine Sodo and Asuman Mohammed brought consistency and horsepower in equal measure, storming their way to third place in 1:13:54  their best finish of the season and possibly the most joyful since they discovered their car could actually finish a rally without drama.

Peter Kalule and David Mwesigwa, in their Subaru Impreza XV, cruised into fourth with a time of 1:14:42  and when asked how it felt, Peter just laughed and said, “At least we finished  the car didn’t argue this time.” It seems even their Subaru had finally agreed to cooperate after a long series of domestic disputes.

Meanwhile, Oscar Ntambi and Pius Luggya claimed fifth place, while poor Hassan Alwi Jr the early rally heartthrob  saw his fairytale turn into a flat-out tragedy. A puncture struck like an uninvited guest at a wedding, right when everything was going smoothly. One minute he was cruising in second overall, the next he was parked by the roadside wondering if tyres also have feelings. From hero to heartbreak, Alwi could only watch as his dream slowly deflated

Musa Ssegaabwe and Mathias Kiyega were another story altogether   the kind that makes both fans and mechanics sigh in sympathy. A puncture on Day 1 cost them a whopping nine minutes  enough time to fry chips, serve them with ketchup, and still wave at the next car passing by. Despite the setback, they soldiered on and finished seventh, though for a man chasing the championship, that result probably felt like ordering a full chicken and getting just the wing.

Haruna Kataaza, Isaac Sozzi, and 2WD warrior Mansoor Lubega wrapped up the top 10  each with their own dose of rally drama. Mansoor, in particular, once again proved that two wheels driving can still give 4wheels a run for their money.

In the 2WD class, it was all about Mansoor “Mr. Corolla” Lubega and his trusty co-driver Ronald Bukenya  a duo that’s turning their Toyota Corolla into a national treasure. The pair drove with such surgical precision that even WRC fans would tip their caps and say, “Now that’s how you hustle a front-wheel drive!” Mansoor’s Corolla hummed through the stages like it was auditioning for a Toyota commercial  no drama, no breakdowns, just pure old-school grit. They crossed the line in 1:22:51, a time that not only secured them class victory but also brought Mansoor dangerously close to sealing the 2WD championship.

Second place went to Amir and Kenneth Kavuma in their Subaru Impreza 2WD  and for once, everything went smoothly. In rally terms, that means nothing broke, nothing smoked, and no cow decided to cross the road mid-stage. Their Impreza ran so cleanly that even their mechanic started to look suspicious, wondering if he’d missed something.They clocked 1:28:28  not blistering speed, but smart, tidy, and efficient

Former 2WD leaders Julius Semambo and Jaffer Kamya had a weekend to forget, finishing third with 1:39:37  a result that had their championship dreams dangling by the thinnest of threads, like a turbo hose about to burst.

Edward Kirumira and Monica Birwinyo claimed fourth place, adding a solid performance to the weekend’s tally, while Samuel Watendwa rounded off the top five

Over in the CRC class, Walter Kibande and Duncan Katumba were in a league of their own once again. They stormed to victory with a time of 1:50:19  and honestly, at this point, they might as well start printing “2025 CRC Champions” on their helmets. The duo’s consistency is so absurdly good that other crews have reportedly started checking under their bonnet to see if someone secretly installed autopilot. Stage after stage, they carved through dust, jumps, and hairpins like a pair of rallying robots with a sense of style  leaving the rest of the field wondering if they were racing against men… or machines.

.Ahmed Kateete and Morgan Serugga chased hard to claim second in 1:59:13 close enough to see Kibande’s bumper dust, far enough to still need binoculars, “We’re tired of seeing his dust. Next year, we’ll bring a fan to blow it back at him.”

Denis Bahizi and Eva Louise Waikamp rounded off the CRC podium in 2:02:00, proving that patience, pace, and just a touch of luck can still earn a smile and a champagne spray. Behind them, Odeon Tumwebaze and Hussein Mukuye claimed fourth, while Nasib Sessanga took fifth, each crossing the line with a mix of relief and pride.

But the biggest heartbreak of the rally belonged to Kevin Bebeto and Siraj Kyambadde  a story that could melt even the toughest rally hearts. They had danced through Day 1 like stars of a dream, leading the CRC with confidence and hope. But Day 2 came with a cruel twist of fate. Midway through the stage, their bonnet flew open, blinding them and disbelief. Still, they tried to push on, hearts pounding until the engine coughed its last breath and overheated. In that moment, silence replaced the roar, and dreams slipped through their fingers.

And now, all eyes turn to the final round  whether it’s Hoima or Mbale, one thing is sure: it’s going to be a showdown. Sebuguzi can already taste the championship champagne, Mansoor is polishing his Corolla for one last dance, and Kibande might as well show up just to collect his trophy and pose for photos.

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