All fears about the fate of the 2023 Rukaari Mbarara City rally were put to rest on Tuesday as the Federation of Motorsport Clubs in Uganda (FMU) and MPU club officials took to the podium to launch the event due on February 10 to 12 in Mbarara, Kashari and Isingoro.

The official launching ceremony that was held at Mwesigwa Resort in Sanga, Kiruhura district, was conducted in conjunction with the event chief sponsor, Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari.

The fears of the event not being held this year, came around when the initially perennial organisers Mbarara Motor Club (MMC) were stripped of the event rights by the local motorsport governing body FMU, in an announcement late last year.

With the announcement, FMU retained the event rights to pattern with MPU to organize the event, which changes have not been received well by the rally fraternity in the area.

However, with the return of the chief sponsor Mwesigwa Rukaari and the turning up of FMU officials Kisitu Mayanja and Noella Blick, led by FMU vice president in charge of touring, vintage and road safety Reynolds Kibira for the launch, the community worries were put to rest.

“We are blessed to be coming back to officially launch this event and as one of the sponsors, I want to guarantee that as long as I am here, I shall always partner with FMU to sponsor this event because it benefits the entire community of Mbarara City as they make economic gains from it,” Rukaari said.

Newly formed Mbarara City Rally Club (MCRC) executive members together with MMC president Lillian Busingye did not turn up although there were some club members from the two clubs, who Kibira praised for the love of the sport.

“We are happy to see members from MCRC and MMC for their presence means they have chosen Mbarara as a region over all our little differences, this must be applauded and I will give you my handclap (claps), thank you,” Kibira said.

According to Clerk of Course (COC) Eron Nsamba, the rally will have 7 sections including the super special stage, and on day one of the competition, the drivers will compete in the first section names Mwesigwa Rukaari, the longest-running from Mwesigwa resort to Biharwe for 44.46km and the Bam Petroleum section from Biharwe to Kakoba for 15.5km before going for the special sprint stage at Booma grounds that will cover 4.12km.

Day two will see the drivers cover 4 sections, the Ex-Effect section running from Ibanda road to Biharwe for 25.78km, repeat the Bam petroleum section, the Bishop Jungu Kainobwisho section of 9.31km, the Bright Rwamirama section from Kaberebere to Kakoba for 19.3km for a total competitive distance 134km and liaison 78.5k,