When Passion Finds a Steering Wheel, The Sadat Negomba Story
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Born and raised in Iganga Nakalama, Sadat Anwar Negomba’s life story reads like a rally stage note twists, bumps, a few spins, and plenty of flat-out moments. Son to Issa Walumini and Nulu Baguta, Sadat’s motorsport roots were quietly planted long before he ever sat behind a steering wheel.
His father, sharing a clan with the late rally icon Sospeter Munyegera, was a devoted rally fan who never missed an event. Although the old man dreamed of becoming a rally driver himself, fate had other plans so the dream politely jumped a generation and landed squarely in Sadat’s lap. As a young boy, Sadat followed his father to rallies, absorbing the dust, noise, and drama, even though football briefly tried to steal his heart in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Eventually, rallying won the tug-of-war. Football boots were packed away, and helmets took over.
The fire was fully ignited in 2013when Sadat travelled to Kajiado, Kenya, to watch the legendary Safari Rally. Seeing fellow Ugandans like Ismail Ortega, Fred Wampamba, and Laila Mayanja battling the brutal stages convinced him that watching from the sidelines was no longer enough. He wanted to feel the car dance, misbehave, and occasionally scare him because that’s rallying.
A year later, rally fate smiled at him in the most unexpected way. A friend, Kisakyakatonda, freely handed him a rally car a Toyota Corolla Levin. Yes, freely. In rally terms, that’s like being gifted a parachute after jumping off the plane. His debut event was in Jinja, navigated by Emma Kakaire. Unfortunately, the rally gods decided to test his patience early. An accident during transportation in Namasoga, just next to Munyegera’s home of all places, ended the weekend.. The Levin was towed… not to the finish ramp, but to the police station. Welcome to rallying, Sadat.
Refusing to be discouraged, Sadat regrouped and changed navigators to Mariam Nambasa. That decision paid off handsomely when the duo secured their first victory in Jinja during the final event of that season. From police tow trucks to podium celebrations rallying truly has mood swings.
Next came an upgrade to a Toyota Vitz, purchased from Hajji Ismail Waliggo, a car that had just won the 2WD championship the previous year. Sadat drove it for three solid years until Waliggo liked it so much he bought it back proving that in rallying, even your old car can miss you.
In 2019, Sadat stepped up again, acquiring a Toyota RunX from Kepher Walubi. It arrived as a bare shell, but rally drivers are part-time mechanics by default. He sourced an engine, built it up, and raced it for two years. In a classic rally twist, he lent the car to Ismail Waliggo during the 2018 Mosac Mbale Rally and Waliggo simply bought it . Lending cars in rallying is risky business.
His current and most faithful companion is the Toyota Corolla FX, bought from Yasin Mukasa of Mbarara. With this machine, Sadat claimed the 2019 Fort Portal 2WD class win alongside Robert Katabalwa, plus several podium finishes. The FX has become his signature proof that determination can sometimes outpace horsepower.
One of Sadat’s quiet achievements is turning his car into a training wing for top navigators. Over the years, he has partnered with a who’s who of successful co-drivers, including Mariam Nambasa, Zubedah Ali, Hamza Lwanga, Robert Katabalwa, Asuman Mohammed, Shakirah Nabwami, Lubowa Charles, and David Mwesigwa. If co-driving had report cards, Sadat’s car would be stamped “approved for graduation.”
His dream car remains the Toyota Yaris, but for now, the FX will carry the battle flag into 2026. With a navigator yet to be finalized, Sadat is determined to be more competitive despite the arrival of newer, faster, and louder machines. The journey begins with the first NRC in Mbale, which he hopes will lay the carpet preferably not a muddy one for the rest of the season.
Looking ahead, Sadat realistically notes that motorsport may remain a sport for the financially strong rather than purely the passionate. Still, development is happening at high speed, much like a rally car missing a braking point.
The journey hasn’t been smooth, but gratitude fuels Sadat just as much as petrol. He pays tribute to Yasin Nasser, who has supported him from the very beginning and even sponsored his ARC outing in Tanzania in 2017, as well as Worldwide Movers, Musa Mululi (Pili Pili), and understanding bosses who allow him to disappear into the dust whenever rally season calls.
From Nakalama to national stages, Sadat Anwar Negomba’s story proves one thing rallying isn’t just about speed. Sometimes it’s about survival, friendship, and fighting through the dust as you chase the next finish ramp.
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