Uganda Fields Strong 10-Crew Squad for Rwanda ARC Battle
By Mwambazi Lawrence
The Ugandan flag will fly high this weekend as a contingent of 10 crews storms into Rwanda for the Mountain Gorilla Rally, the third round of the African Rally Championship (ARC). With four crews chasing continental glory and six more contesting the Rwanda National Rally Championship. Team Uganda is mounting one of its strongest invasions in recent years.
If rally cars needed passports, the Ugandan convoy would probably have a separate immigration lane. And judging by the confidence in the camp, the crews aren’t crossing the border for sightseeing they’re going to see whether Rwandan dust tastes any different from Uganda’s.
Leading the charge are reigning African Rally Champions Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba, who will once again spearhead Uganda’s bid for continental glory aboard their Ford Fiesta Rally2. The crew will be aiming to strengthen their championship campaign against some of Africa’s finest rally competitors.
One of the biggest talking points is the long-awaited international debut of two-time Uganda National Rally Champion Susan Muwonge. Despite conquering almost every challenge on home soil, the Mountain Gorilla Rally marks her first event outside Uganda.
Partnered by experienced co-driver Musa Nsubuga in the trusty Subaru Impreza N12B, Muwonge will have plenty of supporters hoping she writes another chapter in her illustrious career. The boys have already been warned if they spot alemon green Subaru N12 filling their mirrors, they should move over politely because the Rally Queen has no time for excuses. By Sunday evening, a few egos could be parked deeper than some rally cars in the ditches.
Oscar Ntambi and Pius Luggya will represent Uganda aboard a Mitsubishi Evo X, while Godfrey Nsereko and JB Musisi complete the ARC lineup in their Toyota Etios. The Etios may not boast the biggest engine in the field, but rally fans know the stopwatch doesn’t read horsepower it only counts courage, commitment and how brave your right foot is.
Uganda’s RNRC squad is equally impressive. Fred Busulwa and Joseph Bongole return to Rwanda in their Subaru Impreza N14, armed with valuable experience from previous appearances. They know the roads so well that if one stage had street names, they could probably deliver parcels there.
Nasser Mutebi and Emanuel Mugulusi will debut a freshly rebuilt Mitsubishi Evo9. Every rebuilt rally car comes with one unanswered question: “Will it behave?” Mechanics confidently say yes, while the car quietly waits until the first jump to reveal its true personality. Fortunately for Mutebi, the workshop claims they tightened every bolt twice.
Odeon Tumwebaze and Hussein Mukuye will also make their international debut after graduating from the Clubman Rally Championship . Having spent the last few seasons proving themselves at home, the pair finally get permission to leave the nest. The Toyota Altezza might be crossing a border for the first time, but the enthusiasm inside it has probably crossed several already. They’ll quickly discover that rally has one universal language flat out.
Uganda’s RNRC challenge is completed by Faisal Kayira and Duncan Katumba (Subaru GC8), Ibrahim Lubega and Mustapha Kanakulya (Toyota FX), plus Gilberto Balondemu and Hassan Kateregga (Toyota FX). The Toyota FX brigade once again proves an old rally truth: never laugh at an FX on the entry list. Those little machines have embarrassed far more powerful cars over the years, and they somehow keep appearing at every finish ramp with huge smiles and very little fuel left.
A Uganda’s presence extends beyond its own entries. Experienced co-driver Enoch Olinga will partner Burundi’s Roshanali Mohammed “Momo” in a Subaru Impreza GVB. In rallying, nationality sometimes takes the passenger seat once the helmets go on, pace notes become the only language that matters.
The 2026 Mountain Gorilla Rally will cover a total distance of 397.52 kilometres, comprising 252 kilometres of competitive stages and 145.52 kilometres of liaison sections. The action gets underway on Friday with the shakedown and qualifying stage around the iconic Kigali Convention Centre in the heart of Rwanda’s capital.
Saturday presents the biggest challenge, featuring 157.80 kilometres of competitive action spread across 12 special stages. The 24.50-kilometre Gasenyi stage, repeated three times, is expected to play a decisive role in the battle for victory. Sunday’s finale will feature five stages, highlighted by the 24.20-kilometre Kamabuye stage, while the 8.40-kilometre Gako stage will serve as the rally-ending Power Stage where valuable championship points will be on offer.
Competition is expected to be fierce across both championships. The ARC category has attracted 18 crews, with Kenya fielding the largest contingent of seven crews led by Karan Patel. Hosts Rwanda have entered three ARC crews, while Tanzania fields two and Burundi one.
The RNRC field is equally competitive, with Uganda entering six crews, Rwanda seven, Burundi three, and Kenya one, setting the stage for one of the most fiercely contested editions of the Mountain Gorilla Rally in recent memory.
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