A Sneak Peak Into The 2026 National Rally Season

By Mwambazi Lawrence

The 2026 National Rally Championship hasn’t even started yet, but it’s already refusing to behave. The season is knocking on the door with a helmet on, boots muddy, and an attitude that says, “This year, nobody is safe.” Anticipation is sky-high, tension is building, and garages across the country are sounding like therapy centers for stressed mechanics.

Let’s begin with the calendar twist, because even the calendar itself has chosen chaos. For the first time in a while, we’re getting eight rounds instead of the usual seven. Yes, eight. One extra opportunity to shine… or to roll, retire, and blame dust. The real troublemaker, however, is the central round a mystery event with an unknown organizing club, moving like a ghost through the season. What we do know is that it’s parked at the very end of the calendar, meaning championships could be decided by a single puncture, one missed junction, or that famous last-minute “flat-out, we’re good” call that ages drivers ten years in one corner. Expect shaking hands, heated protests, and friendships stretched so thin they’ll need a scrutineer’s approval to survive.

On the hosting front, Mbale is back in the NRC spotlight, dusting off its rally boots to host the opening round. Meanwhile, Soroti and Katakwi are stepping into the spotlight for Round 4, rolling out fresh routes that drivers have never tangoed with before. New roads mean only one thing: bold notes, last-second braking, and that timeless rally classic“Co-driver, are you sure?”This is rallying at its purest no comfort zones allowed.

Off the stages, motorsport fans got a pleasant shock when the Buganda Kingdom released its sports calendar and surprise! motorsport made the list. Two sprints, the Kabaka Birthday Sprint and the Coronation Sprint, are penciled in, and if the stars align, we may witness the long-awaited return of motorsport to the Lubiri racetrack. A sacred venue, a historic track, and engines screaming in royal surroundings? Fingers crossed, rosaries out.

Now, let’s get into the real business: who’s coming armed and dangerous.

Ono Yaliko amasanyalaze, at the top of the excitement chart are Musa Ssegaabwe and co-driver Mathias Kiyegga, who are currently refreshing their phones like it’s a social media feed, desperate for updates on their Škoda Fabia N5. The car is reportedly en route, probably already dreaming of Ugandan rally dust and plotting sideways antics. After a recent trip to Spain for inspection and testing, the duo returned grinning like kids who just got the fastest toy on the playground they are convinced this is their ultimate weapon. Word on the street is that the Fabia will touch down early next month, just in time to cause utter panic in the opening roundand remind everyone that turbocharged mischief has officially arrived.

In the 2WD camp, Dr. Godfrey Nsereko is practically bouncing down the paddock with a spring in his step. His team has welcomed a shiny Toyota Etios R2 all the way from South Africa, and unlike last-minute imports that arrive looking like they’ve survived a minor war, this one has landed early enough for some serious courtship rally style, of course.. Expect this crew to be loud, fast, and extremely uncomfortable for anyone dreaming of easy 2WD points.

Dr. Henry Maseruka of the Gazzlers Rally Team also made an executive decision to ditch his trusty Toyota RunX and step up to the big league because apparently comfort zones are so last season. Byansi Byakuleka, the man himself, recently acquired a Subaru Impreza N14 all the way from Zambia’s Miles Monge, and as we speak, the car is getting the full spa treatment: a rebuild, tweaks, and probably a pep talk to survive Ugandan stages. Meanwhile, Dr. Maseruka is putting in some serious practice and training to sync with his new four-wheeled partner in crime because let’s face it, a car this feisty needs a driver who won’t cry at the first corner. The duo is expected to touch down in Uganda by February, ready to bring a little chaos to the NRC.

Joshua Muwanguzi, fresh off acquiring a Subaru GVB from Yasin Nasser, has officially entered the danger zone. Their debut at the Kabalega Hoima Rally didn’t exactly end with champagne showers more like a modest “we survived” nod but one blistering stage on Day One sent a very clear message: give Joshua enough seat time, and suddenly the rest of the field will be checking their mirrors more often. Watch out, veterans this gun isn’t here for polite handshakes; he’s here to make every stage feel like a high-speed game of tag.

Then came the transfer that had the paddock buzzing Oscar Ntambi saying goodbye to his Subaru N10 and hello to Adam Rauf’s Mitsubishi Evo X Ralliart. The launch in Busiika silenced all doubts. By the time the Champions Sprint ended, it was obvious Oscar was not testing waters he was declaring war. With heavy investment already poured into a full rebuild, insiders claim this Evo X is being prepared to terrorize the NRC and ARC in 2026.

Moses Lumala, once again condolences for the loss of his mother, remains one of the biggest question marks and biggest hopes. His Ford Fiesta MK2 NRC Proto, acquired from Latvia, is widely regarded as a monster. While fans waited impatiently, Lumala quietly sharpened his claws at his Mityana track before reappearing at the Champions Sprint in Busiika. Was that a teaser? A warning? Or just stretching the legs? Either way, all eyes are fixed on his next move.

Not to be left behind, Didas Matsiko is upgrading from a Subaru Impreza WRX to a Subaru Impreza GVB. The man is eager, the car is coming, and once the debut happens, expect even more fireworks in an already explosive season.

From the youth corner, Kevin Bebeto is doing what young, ambitious rally drivers do best keeping everyone guessing. The young gun has officially waved goodbye to his Subaru N10 (now happily owned by someone who admired it a little too much) and has gone full window-shopping modein the rally car market. Sources say his phone gallery now has more car photos than family pictures, and every conversation ends with, “But can it do NRC andARC?” Kevin is hunting for a machine tough enough to survive Ugandan stages, fast enough to scare veterans, and reliable enough not to embarrass him on social media. Fans, this is a certified “watch this space” situation because when a young lad goes quiet, starts smiling mysteriously, and avoids answering questions about horsepower, something serious is on the way

Fresh off their CRC 2025 triumph, Walter Kibande and crew are also stepping up. The faithful Subaru GC8 is being replaced with a Subaru Impreza N14, expected in the coming months. If they could dominate with a GC8, the thought of them in an N14 is enough to make rivals suddenly develop mechanical sympathy.

This is only Part One of the 2026 NRC sneak peek. Part Two will dive into crews jumping classes, surprise comebacks, and new names ready to shake the order. One thing is certain:
The 2026 NRC season isn’t warming upit’s already spinning wheels at the start line.

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