Not Just For Fun Anymore
By Mwambazi Lawrence
There’s something magical about rally mornings in Uganda. The sun rising over the hills, the air thick with anticipation, fans waving flags, and engines warming up like lions about to roar. It’s more than just a sport it’s a feeling, a rhythm that connects hearts from the city to the village. Rallying has a way of uniting us all; from the mechanic wiping grease off his hands to the young boy perched on a termite hill, eyes wide with wonder. It’s the one time we forget our differences and cheer as one family. But beyond the dust and speed, lies a truth we rarely talk about the men and women who make this magic happen don’t just bring us entertainment, they invest their sweat, their savings, and their dreams into keeping the wheels of this sport spinning. And maybe… just maybe, it’s time we gave back, not just with applause, but with support that matters.
Often times, we flock to rally routes dressed like pit crew members rally jackets, flags, vuvuzelas, and sunglasses that make us look faster than we really are. We shout ourselves hoarse cheering our favorite drivers. But pause for a moment do we ever stop to think where these rally drivers and teams get the money that keeps those engines roaring?
So, I ask where is it wrong to support each other business-wise? Why cheer for someone on the stage but ignore them in the market? We’ll scream “wuuuyo Kikankane!” till our throats go dry, but when he sells car parts, suddenly we all become price negotiators from another planet. If rally is family, then business should stay in the family too! You can’t be shouting “Team Subie forever!” on Saturday and then buy your shock absorbers from a guy called Ssalongo on Monday
Take Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru the man who drives like his accelerator owes him money. Beyond the dust and drama, he’s a mechanic and dealer in genuine spares. For years, he’s entertained the nation with his skill and showmanship. It would be pure betrayal to take your car elsewhere when Kikankane’s garage is right there. Support your own the man might even throw in a free turbo laugh.
Ronald Sebuguzi, the soon-to-be 2025 Ugandan Rally Champion, has been in the game longer than some fans have been out of diapers. He’s not just a driver but a mechanic and importer of quality parts. Every time you buy from Sebuguzi, you’re not just fixing your car you’re fueling a champion’s dream.
Rashid Makumbi, famously known as Shidi Auto Parts of Kisekka Market, is a perfect example of passion meeting enterprise. He races hard, runs a thriving auto business, and still finds time to support his three motocross daughters. If hustle had horsepower, it would sound like his Mitsubishi Evo X.
Paul Musazi, Ponsiano Lwakataka’s co-driver and possibly the bravest man in Uganda, is a car wiring specialist in Kyebando. After all, if he can survive a full rally seated beside Ponsiano, your wiring problem is child’s play.
Then there’s Peter Kalule, the fans’ favorite during sprints, another rally driver who doubles as a mechanic in Mulago. And Isaac Sozzi the gentleman of the dust deals in generators and compressors. So, before you rent that noisy “last-breath” generator that sounds like a rally car with malaria, call Sozzi. Supporting him means you’ll have both lights and loyalty to the sport.
Let’s not forget Super Lady Susan Muwonge Uganda’s one and only female National Rally Champion, the queen of speed herself! On the track, she’s a calm storm in a helmet; off it, she’s shaping the next generation as the proud proprietor of St. Francis Junior School. Now be honest why take your child elsewhere when they can study under the wings of a champion? Imagine your kid learning mathematics from someone who calculates corners at 160 km/h! At St. Francis, even break time feels like a pit stop, and discipline? Tight like a rally schedule. You want your child to aim high, think fast, and never quit? Then enroll them where inspiration wears a racing suit. After all, who wouldn’t want their report card signed by a legend with a trophy cabinet that doubles as motivation?
Ismail Waliggo, though currently on a short rally break, is far from idle the man swapped the roar of engines for the sound of school bells as the proprietor of Kyadondo SS, where he’s busy shaping the next generation of thinkers and dreamers. You could say he’s now rallying students toward success, one chalkboard at a time. And then there’s Hassan Alwi Jr another star behind the wheel, but also a key figure in the administration at the International University of East Africa. He may drive fast, but his contribution to education runs even deeper. Picture him in a meeting explaining strategy with the same precision he uses to take a hairpin corner! These are rally stars who prove that success isn’t just about who reaches the finish line first, but also about who builds the road for others to follow.
Now let’s talk fuel because no rally machine runs on good intentions or cheers from the fans. You can’t fill a tank with excitement, my friend! It’s Moil Uganda, Stabex, and Shell that keep our roaring beasts alive and kicking. These companies have stood with motorsport through thick dust and thick mud alike. Moil powers the unstoppable Yasin Nasser, Stabex keeps Edward Kirumira charging through the stages, and Shell not only fuels Ronald Sebuguzi’s fiery pace but also sponsors the mighty Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally itself. So the next time you’re at the pump choosing where to refuel, remember supporting these brands isn’t just topping up your tank, it’s literally fueling the sport you love.
Dr. Moustapha Mukasa, the man behind Drugs Express, is another great example. A rally driver, doctor, and businessman who’s been in the game for over six years. Imagine buying medicine elsewhere while your own rally doctor is there that’s like cheering Lwakataka and then running to buy oil from his competitor! Dr. Godfrey Nsereko, another rally driver and pharmacist based in Kitezi, also keeps the motorsport community healthy. Dr. Henry Masereka, a veterinary doctor and 2WD driver, ensures our livestock are alive and well .
Then there’s Dr. Ahmed Ashraf, a man who traded the roar of rally engines for the calm hum of hospital corridors. A medical doctor and former Ugandan Rally Champion, Dr. Ashraf may no longer be behind the wheel, but his heart still races for the sport. For years, he conducted free medical checkups for rally drivers at the start of every season ensuring competitors were as fit as their machines before they hit the stages. Now that’s dedication on another level! So, how about returning the favor by supporting his business
And to the financial pit crew Equity Bank, Centenary Bank, and KCB Bank the true sponsors of speed and dreams! These are not your usual “press 1 for customer care” banks; these ones know the sound of an anti-lag better than most of us know our ATM pins. Equity Bank proudly fuels the Drugs Express Rally Team, Centenary Bank keeps Ronald Sebuguzi’s engines singing, while KCB Bank backs a whole dream team Nasser Mutebi, Michael Mukula Jr. and Oscar Ntambi and still finds time (and budget) to sponsor entire events!
https://equitygroupholdings.com/ug
So, fellow rally fans, ask yourself why queue up at banks that don’t even know what “flat out” means, when you can stand with those who cheer alongside us at every service park? These are banks that understand both interest rates and rally interest! Next time you’re opening an account, remember it’s not just about saving money; it’s about saving the sport. Because in rally, just like in finance, the real win is having the right team in your corner or in this case, in your service park.
Let’s not forget the quiet professionals who keep things running off the stage. Kagolo Kees your go-to man for anything URA, imports, or court-related. Ali Katumba co-driver and lawyer, can argue both in court and on rally notes. Sharif Muyanja, a seasoned tax consultant and co-driver, runs Outlook Uganda handling taxes and tactics. Why hire an outsider when your own rally family has all the expertise?
Jackson Serwanga, engineer and former driver turned administrator, is proof that passion never retires it just takes a managerial seat. Hajji Ahmed Senyonjo, an electrical engineer and 2WD driver, brings the current both on and off the track.
https://www.tradematecloud.com
And in real estate, we have Robert Sentongo aka Nkima, who has invested heavily in both property and rallying. When he’s not racing, he’s building dreams. Musa Ssegaabwe too, a businessman with a deep love for motorsport, keeps investing to ensure fans have shows worth watching.
https://www.segamu14consults.com
Motorsport isn’t just entertainmentit’s an ecosystem, a community of hustlers, dreamers, and diehard enthusiasts. It’s high time we treat it like the business platform it can be. If we keep supporting each other mechanics, banks, schools, engineers, doctors, and all we’ll create a network where every shilling spent keeps the wheels turning, literally and figuratively..
So next time you’re at a rally and a car slides past you at 160 km/h, don’t just scream and wave your flag ask yourself: How can I support the people behind that dust cloud?
After all, we don’t just cheer the race we fuel the racers.
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