13-year-old King Rama impresses with 12th-place finish in buggy debut

Uganda's fast-rising motocross star Ramathan Mubiru, known as King Rama, has taken a major step toward becoming a future rally star after unveiling a buggy rally car worth an estimated sh120m.

The 13-year-old, son of singer Haruna Mubiru, made his competitive buggy debut over the weekend at the Ponsiano Lwakataka Fundraising Sprint at Victoria Raceway Park in Garuga.

King Rama drew attention with his speed and fearless driving. His buggy repeatedly took to the air, leaving some spectators, especially parents, anxious, while others praised him as a potential champion.

Competing against experienced drivers and better machinery, he finished 12th overall out of 30 competitors, an impressive result for a first outing in the buggy.

Ramathan Mubiru on his motocross bike

The debut is part of a plan to broaden his racing experience and build the technical versatility, car control, and race craft he will need when he eventually moves from motocross to rallying.

His development was recently interrupted by injury after he broke his right leg. He has been undergoing rehabilitation as he works his way back to competitive racing.

In 2024, King Rama received a full scholarship from the Parliament of Uganda under former Speaker Annet Anita Among, covering his education through Senior Six at Kakungulu Memorial. The scholarship followed his silver medal performance at the FIM Africa Motocross of Nations (MXoAN) in Marrakesh, Morocco, where he competed in the 65cc category.

According to his grandfather, Moses Lumala, a veteran Ugandan rally driver and national rally champion who has been financing King Rama's career, the youngster received specialist training from experts from Latvia's Neiksans.

Lumala said King Rama trained for only four days before racing the buggy but adapted as though he had spent much longer behind the wheel.

King Rama in his buggy bike

"I'm now ageing. A few years from now, I won't be able to compete actively in the sport of my passion. Now I'm grooming King Rama, my other granddaughter who is six years old, and my son Musa Lumala. I'm going to invest all my money to see these champions in the making prosper," Lumala said.

He said participation in motorsport will depend on academic performance, any youngster who fails to perform well at school will not be allowed to take part in events.

Despite King Rama's age and limited buggy experience, Lumala said he was impressed by the teenager's debut and revealed plans to acquire a front-wheel-drive car for him as part of his continued development.

"King Rama impressed me at his debut in a buggy. I'm buying him a front-wheel-drive car to be using. When he clocks 18 years old, I will introduce him into four-wheel cars. He must be a rally champion," Lumala added.