Almost 12 years without testing a win in motor rally championships, rally driver, Ponsiano Lwakataka has finally gone back home from Mbarara with a smile and a trophy, after winning the Rukaari-Lake Mburo Mbarara 2022 NRC season opener. 

Lwakataka who last won the title in the Mbarara rally in 2013 and national rally in 2007 claimed the podium finish after clocking 1:32:33:42, beating his closest challenger Fred Busulwa who came 2nd on 1:40:11:78 and fast-improving Aine Godfrey Sodo, who came  3rd on 1:43:48:00. 

This came as compensation to Lwakataka who was poised to win the 2020 edition but crashed out in the last section when he was leading the event.  

Ponsiano Lwakataka, racing his Subaru Impreza in Mwesigwa range land at Kibega,Sanga in Kiriuhura

However, Lwakataka also took advantage this time as the reigning national champion, and 2020 Rukaari Mbarara rally winner Duncan Mubiru Kikankane, who dropped out in the second section after his car developed a mechanical problem. 

Mubiru was joined by  2014 NRC winner Ronald Ssebuguzi, and Arthur Blick Jr. who was leading after the first two sections, also dropped out on day one as their cars developed mechanical problems. 

"This was a stiff challenge as everyone was here to win, but I thank my service team for having enabled me to win because I had a puncture and a fan belt problem on day one but they worked in speed to fix them. I started day one-two minutes behind and because I don’t give up, I pushed hard and finally won,” The jovial Lwakataka said.  

Edward Kirumira pushed his Toyota Curren to the fourth position while youthful Mark Lubega, son of Uganda motor rally legend Charlie Lubega came 5th.  

The two-day event and the first one on the FMU calendar, which had a setback with the federation canceling it out on Friday but allowing it hours later, saw 15 of 24 crews finish over a total distance of 174.77km over 8 sections. 

Arthur Blick Jr after completing first section of Rukaari- Lake Mburo Mbarara rally Circuit at Mwesigwa Resort in KIbega, Sanga, Kiruhura district

Lake View Resort Hotel, Sadiago tours, and travel, Shell V-power, Rock Boom were some of the sponsors with Mwesigwa Resort Motel of Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari the chief sponsor. 

Top 5 Mbarara Rally finishers 

1. Ponsiano Lwakataka / Paul Musaazi -Subaru Impreza 1:32:33:42 

2.  Fred BUSULWA / Joseph BONGOLE - Subaru 1:40:11:78 

3 . Aine SODO / D. LUBAMBULA - Evo9 N 1:43:48:00  

4. E. KIRUMIRA / Robert KATABALWA PRM -Toyota Curren 1:51:20:78 

5. Mark LUBEGA / D. MBABAZI - Subaru Impreza 1:56:40:64  

2022 NRC standings after Mbarara Rally 

Ponsiano Lwakata 100 points
Fred Buslulwa        75
Aine Sodo                60
Edward Kirumira            40
Mark Lubega        38