Fast, Famous, and Now… Where?
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Due to overwhelming public demand and a bit of curiosity mixed with mischief , we took a drive down memory lane to visit a fair share of rally drivers who once set stages on fire. Each left a unique tyre mark on the sport some with speed, others with style, and a special few with vibes so loud they needed their own service park.
Yet today, many of these crowd favorites are mysteriously missing from the start lists. Have they been abducted by aliens? Have they traded helmets for slippers and early bedtime news? Or are they simply waiting for the right moment to remind us who they are? Buckle up as we revisit the legends who once ruled the rally madness and then… quietly switched off the ignition.
Desh Kananura – The Rally That Was the Rally
Desh Kananura wasn’t just a driver; he was a mobile opening ceremony. When Desh arrived, the rally officially started even if scrutineering was still busy arguing with rule books, vernier calipers, and common sense.His fans, dressed in colorful DRT T-shirts, KFC logos proudly displayed, some even wearing capes (yes, actual capes), created an atmosphere that could intimidate even the loudest anti-lag system.
In 2015, Kananura shook the paddock with a Subaru Impreza N14, then casually upgraded to an N14 R4 and eventually a Mitsubishi Evo X R4 because causing mechanical panic and rival insomnia clearly became part of the strategy. Competition tightened like a badly torqued wheel nut: uncomfortable, dangerous, and guaranteed to ruin someone’s weekend.
Though he’s stepped back from active competition, whispers of a comeback still float around service parks like dust on a shakedown stage getting into overalls, sandwiches, and everyone’s business. The King of Vibes may be resting, but legends don’t retire… they just idle loudly, rev occasionally, and keep the fans checking the entry list “just in case.”
Ambrose Byona (Omunyeto) – The Jolly Warrior
Always smiling, always jolly, and forever carrying a 5-litre jerrycan of his favourite drink, Enturire, Ambrose “Omunyeto” Byona was a core pillar of the mighty DRT team. His rally journey kicked off in a Mitsubishi Pajero Desert Warrior because why start small when you can start dramatic?
He later transitioned to a Mitsubishi Evo IX, proving that beneath the jokes was a seriously talented driver. He once sold an Evo X to fellow competitor Umar Dauda for a price that still causes accountants physical pain. With another Evo X reportedly waiting in the wings, fans continue to pray that Omunyeto returns this time with a bigger 20litre jerrycan of Enturire and louder cheers.
Adam Essa Rauf
Adam Rauf stormed into the rally scene like a man who’d just realized he was late for the start line of life itself. First a GC8, then an N10, then an Evo IX, and finally an Evo X switching cars faster than a co-driver could read pacenotes. He tore up stages in both Uganda and Tanzania, collecting fans like rally stickers on a bumper. He was on fire, until life decided to slam the handbrake because apparently even rally legends aren’t allowed to drive at full throttle forever.
His Evo X spent years parked at home, possibly telling bedtime stories about flying jumps and flat-out sections, before eventually being sold to Oscar Ntambi. Chances of Rauf returning to rally? About as likely as Bernard Munyagwa becoming President of Uganda but rally has taught us never to say.
Dr. Ahmed Ashraf
Dr. Ahmed Ashraf wasn’t just a champion; he was the owner of one of the loudest Subaru Impreza GC8s ever to shake Ugandan soil. NRC champion in 2008, he later upgraded to an N8 and then an N14, continuing to terrorize both stages and spectators’ eardrums.
Today, like a doctor on sabbatical, he shares his passion for speed with his sons. The stethoscope may be closer than the steering wheel for now, but hope remains that one day the doctor will prescribe himself a full rally comeback.
Rajiv Ruparelia (RIP)
The late Rajiv Ruparelia made his debut with a borrowed Subaru N10, proving early that talent doesn’t wait for ownership papers. He later acquired Uganda’s first VW Proto, dominating the CRC class and often leading events with fearless determination.
A fan favourite with the heart of a lion, Rajiv’s rally journey was halted after a heavy accident at the EMC Kaliro Sugar Rally 2022, where the VW had an unforgettable meeting with a tree. Tragically, Rajiv later lost his life in a separate road accident. His infectious vibe, courage, and passion can never be replaced. The car remains parked but his legacy races on forever.
Fred Wampamba
Fred Wampamba began his rally tale in a Toyota Celica before taming the Subaru Impreza N8, eventually graduating to an N14 because why take it slow when you can skip straight to chaos? After just one or two rallies, the car was parked like a dethroned king sent into exile before finishing its reign.
Today, that Subaru sits quietly in Mengo, looking polished, powerful, and slightly judgmental, like it knows it’s wasted potential. Fans linger nearby, flags at the ready, holding their collective breath, waiting for Tiger Rally Team to roar back to life or at least for Fred to remember where he left the keys
Hajji Musa Mulika
Hajji Musa Mulika electrified fans in his Subaru Impreza GC8, fearlessly battling Evo Xs and newer Subarus, often finishing inside the top ten like a man who refused to read the odds. Recently spotted working on the GC8, fans are hopeful he’s not just fixing the radio or checking the mirrors but tuning it for a full-blown comeback. Hope, after all, is a rally fan’s favourite fuel.
Christakis Fitidis
Fitidis, alongside Eric Nzamwita, became a household name in the Subaru N12B and later the Mitsubishi Evo X, etching their names into the hearts of fans everywhere. Their fierce rivalry with Hassan Alwi Jr. and Ronald Sebuguzi wasn’t just about speed it defined an era, shaping the very soul of Ugandan rallying. After clinching the National Rally Championship in 2017, Fitidis stepped away gracefully, leaving the stage while the applause was still thunderous, reminding us all that true legends know when to pause, not vanish.
Godfrey Lubega (Tallman)
Godfrey “Tallman” Lubega, celebrated for both speed and sheer presence, is currently on a break but don’t let that fool anyone. His Subaru Impreza N12 waits patiently, like a sprinter bouncing on their toes, checking the starting blocks, and muttering, “Come on, I know we’re ready!” The car practically hums with anticipation, revving in its dreams of dust clouds, flying gravel, and the sweet chaos of a stage left wondering who just passed it at impossible speed.
These rally icons didn’t just drive cars they built connections, inspired legions of fans, and transformed motorsport into pure theatre. Though many are currently missing in action, their machines sit not under layers of dust, but cradled in hope, waiting for the day they’ll roar back to life and remind us why we fell in love with the sport in the first place.
About The Author
