Mbale Set to Host NRC1 Action as 2026 Season Nears
By Mwambazi Lawrence
After eight years in rally exile long enough for some cars to be retired, revived, and retired again Mbale has finally clawed its way back onto the Uganda National Rally Championship calendar. And in true rally fashion, it is not easing in gently. The city will host the opening round of the NRC, officially waking up the Elgon dust and the national rally madness.
The event, organized by the MPU Club, is scheduled for March 27–28, just after the Ramadan period to allow drivers to fast, feast and then strap in. This marks Mbale’s first NRC appearance since 2018, when the MOSAC Club ran the unforgettable Oryx Energies Elgon Rally which was the championship decider that saw Susan Muwonge and Edmon Kyeyune bag their second national title. That rally had everything from speed, tension, heartbreak, and mechanics aging rapidly in service parks.
The opening round of the NRC is always special. It’s the rally where championship dreams are born, exaggerated, and sometimes destroyed before lunchtime. It’s where drivers arrive convinced “this is our year,” co-drivers arrive armed with fresh notebooks, and team managers arrive pretending budgets are under control.
For years, superstition ruled that whoever wins the opening round is destined for championship glory. Then came last season. Ponsiano Lwakataka won the opener in Mbarara, celebrations followed, predictions were made and rally logic promptly collapsed. Ronald Sebuguzi went on to claim the 2025 NRC crown, reminding everyone that rallying has no memory, no mercy, and absolutely no respect for tradition.
This year’s championship is already shaping up to be a proper dogfight. Some crews are shopping for cars, others have just bought machines as mean as war tanks that scare even their own mechanics, while a few are waiting for vehicles “still on the way,”. Several drivers are also stepping up classes, which usually means more horsepower, less sleep, and highr fuel bills.
After months without competitive rally action, drivers are hungry. Very hungry by the way. Expect flat-out driving, brave notes, questionable tyre choices, and at least one car debut that will either shock the field or shock its owner.
As Mbale returns to the NRC spotlight, one thing is guaranteed: the Elgon hills are about to echo with engines and the sound of shattered expectations. Rally season is back, Mbale-style dusty, unpredictable, and gloriously unhinged.
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