FMU Crowns 2025 Champions in a Night to Remember
By Mwambazi Lawrence
And so it was a night to remember as the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) crowned its 2025 champions on January 3, 2026, at the Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, Kampala. For once, the only dust in the room was metaphorical, as rally drivers and motocross riders normally allergic to ironing showed up in black-tie attire, quietly checking their shoes to confirm they still had soles after a long season of left-foot braking and hard landings.
The loudest cheers of the night were reserved for Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba, who were crowned 2025 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) champions, delivering Uganda its first continental rally title in 26 years. The applause lasted longer than some rally stages, and rightly so. If championships were decided by noise levels, this one would still be echoing somewhere between Bugolobi and the service park.
On the national scene, This year Ronald Sebuguzi once again proved that experience doesn’t age it just gets faster. Sebuguzi, alongside Anthony Mugambwa, clinched his fourth National Rally Championship title, confirmed after the final round at the Kabalega Hoima Rally. While rivals attacked stages like rent was due, Sebuguzi calmly collected points, demonstrating that sometimes the fastest way to win a rally is simply finishing without calling the recovery truck.
The Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) had its own storyline, with Walter Kibande and navigator Duncan Katumba quietly but efficiently putting together a title-winning campaign. Their consistency was so impressive that spectators began checking whether their car came with an invisible “finish every rally” button. In the Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) category, Mansoor Lubega and Ronald Bukenya reminded everyone that horsepower is optional when bravery and commitment are fully installed as they received their award for the 2wd champions 2025.
Motocross riders, usually spotted flying sideways with mud in places physics cannot explain, were also celebrated this time airborne only when climbing the stage to collect trophies. Gift Ssebuguzi ruled the MX125 class, while Miguel Katende conquered MX85, riding like bedtime was optional. Jerome Mubiru dominated MX85 Lites, Israel Mpuga took the MX50 Senior title, and the Ladies Category belonged to Sharifah Kateete (MX2) and Shamirah Kateete (MX125), affirming once again that speed does not check gender before crossing the finish line.
The night also paused to honor motorsport’s unsung heroes, with Safety Marshal of the Year and Motorsport Personality of the Year awards reminding everyone that rallies don’t run on fuel alone someone has to wave the flags, stop spectators from standing in racing lines, and occasionally explain why a road is closed “for fun.” Corporate partners including Vivo Energy Uganda, Ruparelia Group, and KCB Bank Uganda were recognized for supporting a sport where broken parts are guaranteed and budgets are always “almost enough.”
Adding to the occasion was the multi-year recognition segment, which saw champions from the past three seasons finally collect their delayed awards, sparking cheers, friendly jokes, and reminders that in motorsport, some trophies take almost as long to arrive as spare parts ordered after a big crash.
Meanwhile ,Simba Rally Team’s Kevin Bebeto, Diana Nagawa, and Jonathan Katende were among those recognized for multiple achievements throughout the season.
As the evening wound down, stories of missed pacenotes, questionable tyre choices, and “that one corner” flowed freely. It was a night where rally drivers learned to walk carefully on carpets, motocross riders avoided jumping the stage, and everyone agreed on one thing championships may be won in dust, mud, and mechanical drama, but they are best celebrated in suits
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