Ex-rally champion Lumala boosts Mbarara rally

By Johnson Were

Former national rally champion Moses Lumala has boosted the Mbarara challenge rally with a donation of trophies worth over sh5m.

The rally starts on February 28 and end March 2 Masaka and Kiruhura districts

The event manager Hajji Hamidu Gombe disclosed this in a press briefing held at Tap Auto Garage-Ndeeba on Tuesday during the launch of the three-day event.

“I want to thank former champion Lumala for support. He has donated to us trophies enough for the event. Actually he gave us more than the sh5m we had budgeted for trophies,” said Gombe, cutting a relieved figure.

Initially, the plan was that drivers would have race in Bushenyi district. But organisers changed the venue to Kiruhura, saying that Bushenyi was not safe because of its heavy population and busy traffic.

 “We are not compromising safety and because of the heavy traffic in Bushenyi we decided to move the rally to Kiruhura where all the sections are in farms with the best viewing point at Rushozi FF,” Nathan Kibiike, confirmed the development.

The 366.4km rally with a 167.1km competitive stretch will have five sections. The longest stretch will be 82km from Kyamugulanyi to Rushozi and the shortest will be 14.4km from Kanyenyeru to Biharwe.

Over 21 drivers including Dr. Ashraf Ahmed, Wycliff Bukenya, Fred Wapamba, John Barrows Lumu, Mansoor Lubega, Nasser Mutebi, Jonas Kansiime, Ismail Otega, Patrick Ssebambulide, Umaru Daud, Jaffer Kamya and Samuel Watendwa have confirmed their participation.

Others include Vision group’s Joshua Kato, Godfrey Kiyaga aka Black widow, Isaac Sozzi, Isa Bbosa, Paul Kafumbe  and Kalule Ssempala.

The event will start with a super special stage in Masaka on Saturday March 1before heading to Kiruhura on Sunday.