Susan Muwonge Delighted with Podium Finish on International Rally Debut
By Mwambazi Lawrence
There are moments in sport when the stopwatch measures time, but history measures courage.” Last weekend in the hills of Bugesera, Rwanda, Susan Muwonge wasn’t chasing victory alone she was chasing a dream that had waited her entire rally career. As the dust settled and the engines fell silent, Uganda’s “Super Lady” had written a new chapter beyond her country’s borders. Her first international rally had been conquered, her mission accomplished, and with co-driver Musa Nsubuga beside her, she proudly stood on the ARC2 podium after finishing third at the Mountain Gorilla Rally.
The Ugandan rally star, alongside experienced co-driver Musa Nsubuga, finished an impressive third in the ARC2 category at last weekend’s Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda’s Bugesera District. It was Muwonge’s first-ever rally outside Uganda, making the result one she’ll remember for years to come.
For someone driving on tarmac for the very first time, especially the tricky circuit stages, Muwonge looked right at home. Every corner was a classroom, every stage another lesson, and by the finish ramp, the “Super Lady” had graduated with honours.
Of course, no proper rally story is complete without the car trying to negotiate its own retirement. Before breakfast had even settled, the crew suffered a puncture. The power steering then decided it deserved a day off, the suspension followed its own travel itinerary, and somewhere along the route, the stabilizer bar also submitted its resignation. But as rally fans love to say, if the car doesn’t complain at least once, did you really go rallying?
Despite the mechanical drama, Muwonge and Nsubuga kept their cool, nursing the Subaru Impreza N12B through the stages to secure a podium finish. While the car tested their patience, the crew never lost sight of their mission.
“It was a milestone beyond borders for me. My goal was simply to start and finish, and I’m thrilled to have achieved it,” Muwonge said after completing the rally. She described the event as a huge learning experience, admitting that driving on tarmac was a completely new adventure.
“Every stage pushed me to adapt, improve, and trust my abilities. Finishing the rally safely is a victory I will always cherish,” she said.
Muwonge also praised the organizers for delivering a professionally managed event with excellent safety standards, saying the Mountain Gorilla Rally provided the perfect environment for her international debut.
For Uganda’s “Super Lady,” the podium trophy is only part of the story. The biggest victory was proving to herself that she belongs on the continental stage. If this debut is anything to go by, the rest of Africa has officially been put on notice.
“This rally has reminded me that every new challenge is an opportunity to grow. One rally completed. Countless possibilities ahead. The struggle continues!”
With her first international finish now in the books, Susan Muwonge has not only achieved a personal dream but has also inspired a new generation of female competitors to believe that no finish line is too far and no challenge too great. The road beyond Uganda’s borders has finally opened, and for the “Super Lady” of Ugandan rallying, it promises many more adventures to come.
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