Team Uganda Ready for the Legendary Safari Rally
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Uganda is once again ready to make its presence felt on the international motorsport stage as four determined crews prepare to fly the national flag high at this year’s legendary Safari Rally Kenya, which officially roars into life tomorrow in the lakeside town of Naivasha.
The normally calm Naivasha service park has transformed into a hive of controlled rally madness. Mechanics are crawling under cars like doctors in an emergency ward, tightening the final bolts, checking suspensions and whispering prayers to gearboxes that will soon face one of the most brutal challenges in global motorsport. The air is filled with the smell of fuel, dust and anticipation, while drivers walk around pretending to look relaxed even though deep inside they are already negotiating with the gods of Safari Rally survival.
Earlier today, drivers and co-drivers wrapped up their official reconnaissance, the sacred ritual where crews slowly drive through the stages while writing the famous pacenotes that will guide them at full speed later. During recce, every crest, every deceptive corner and every suspicious-looking rock is carefully noted. Unfortunately, the Safari Rally has a long-standing tradition of moving rocks overnight just to keep drivers humble. It is also the only rally where a perfectly good road in the morning can turn into a wildlife documentary by the afternoon, complete with dust clouds, loose stones and the occasional Zebra that believes it owns the stage.
Leading Uganda’s charge are African Rally Champions Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba, who will be competing in their Ford Fiesta. The experienced duo arrive with plenty of continental pedigree and Safari wisdom. Nasser knows that in Kenya, driving fast is important but sometimes driving slowly around a rock the size of a refrigerator is even more important if you want to see the finish ramp.
Also representing Uganda is the ever-exciting Duncan Mubiru, famously known as “Kikankane,” who will be navigated by Joseph Kamya in a Subaru Impreza GVB under the Betika colours. Mubiru is well known for his spectacular driving style, which often leaves fans screaming with excitement and photographers running to keep up. In Safari Rally terms, however, the biggest challenge will be convincing the car to land nicely after every enthusiastic jump.
Another Ugandan crew ready to face the Kenyan wilderness features Oscar Ntambi and co-driver Asumman Mohammed, who will be competing in a KCB-sponsored Mitsubishi Evo X. For this pair, the 2026 Safari Rally marks their first attempt at the iconic event together. Like many Safari rookies, they will soon learn that the rally is less about who is the fastest and more about who can arrive at the finish line with most of the car still attached.
Completing Team Uganda are Timothy Gawaya and co-driver Francis Wamala, who return to tackle the Safari Rally for the second time. Armed with previous experience and improved preparation, the crew will campaign their Toyota Starlet with hopes of conquering the demanding stages that stretch across Kenya’s rugged landscapes. Having survived the rally once before, they already know the golden Safari rule: if you hear a strange sound in the car, simply turn up the intercom volume and pretend it doesn’t exist until the service park.
The rally action begins tomorrow morning with the shakedown stage, which will only be contested by Rally1 and Rally2 cars as teams test their final setups. Later in the day, the ceremonial start will officially launch the rally before competitors head out for two competitive stages scheduled for the evening, setting the tone for what promises to be a dramatic and dusty weekend of racing.
Besides being the third round of the World Rally Championship, the event also doubles as the opening round of the African Rally Championship. This means African crews will be chasing not only survival but also valuable championship points, while trying to prove that local knowledge can sometimes beat expensive suspension parts.
For Uganda, the Safari Rally represents more than just another race. It is a stage where courage meets opportunity and where local talent can shine under the bright lights of the global motorsport arena..
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