Byona shakes off seven-year rust, vows to dominate Masaka Rally
Byona, navigated by female co-driver Suzan Nantale Kalema, returned from a seven-year sabbatical to win the second division category of the NRC at the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Mbarara, held May 7–10, 2026.
Ambrose Byona powers his Mitsubishi Evo 10 in the Pearl Rally Power Stage. Photo by Johnson Were
The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally has re-engineered rally driver Ambrose Byona, pushing him to step up his preparation for the next National Rally Championship (NRC) event, scheduled for June 19–20, 2026, in Masaka.
Byona, navigated by female co-driver Suzan Nantale Kalema, returned from a seven-year sabbatical to win the second division category of the NRC at the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Mbarara, held May 7–10, 2026.
Popularly known as Omunyeeto, Byona used the Pearl of Africa Rally to shake off seven years of rust without racing and to get familiar with his left-hand drive car.
“Our goal for the next event is not just to compete. It is to dominate and be regulars on the overall podiums of the National Rally Championship,” Byona said.
“We know the next event will be tough because Masaka terrain and stages are always on rough gravel and wet marram, which will challenge us. But we shall tailor our pace notes to attack it,” Byona added.
Sponsored by Yaobai Cement, Lato Milk, Kabango Coffee, and Optima Mines and Minerals, the former DRT ambassador finished seventh overall after posting a total time loss of 2 hours, 28.14 minutes in the overall NRC category. The category was won by Tanzania’s Randeep Singh, co-driven by Uganda’s Enock Olinga.
This performance has ignited Byona to aim higher in the next NRC event in Masaka next month, promising to give NRC table leaders a run for their money as he prepares to fly in an R5 machine next year.
Byona is also excited to be co-driven by female navigator Suzan Kalema, whom he regards as experienced and highly composed.
With only two of the eight NRC calendar events finished, Byona cannot be ruled out of the NRC title contention.
IUEA driver Hassan Alwi leads the standings with 118 points after winning the opening round of the KCB NRC in Mbale last month. Umaru Dauda (82.5 points) and Duncan Mubiru (79 points) are second and third, respectively. Tanzania’s Randeep Singh, navigated by Uganda’s Enock Olinga, is fourth, while African champion Yasin Naser is fifth with 73 points.
The 2026 Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally, co-sponsored by KCB Bank, UTB, Nivana Water, and NCS, attracted 54 competitors, including 20 foreign crews.