The  Mbarara City rally is on this weekend in parts of Mbarara City, Mbarara district and Kiruhura areas as 39 crews take to the stages for competition for the podium in the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) 2024 NRC calendar opener.

As usual,  hundreds of fans will be lining along the rally routes to cheer their favourite drivers while others will just be enjoying the event as top actors take the pace.

But Mbarara fans long time of support has seen them dosed to limited cerebrations of near-to-success, drivers like Jonas Kansiime, Ambrose Byoona ‘Omunyeto’, Wilberforce Pole Pole (RIP), Desh Kananura, Robert Kakogoso to mention.

But these only could have been trying to make it to the level of enjoyment Charles Muhangi (RIP) left the fans in, with his heroics, much better than the aforementioned drivers of the yesteryears.

Today, Mbarara based rally drivers have found it a hard challenge to compete successfully in the event at their backyard due to a couple of challenges they face along and this has left the home fans to turn their attention to the elite drivers, a mindset Didas Matsiko says must change with them 9drivers) doing it right.

“We have been doing well in the previous events for we have come through the different categories of the competition. And this year we are very ready to challenge the very best for we also have competitive cars and we are good drivers. We want our people to trust and support us,” Matsiko said.

The local fans here are treated to the new set of drivers in Happy David Katehangwa (Subaru Impreza), Didas Matsiko (Subaru Impreza N12), Yassin Mukasa (Toyota FX) and to Christopher Bebanza Kateera, who has taken the sport by storm with a Subaru Impreza GC8.

And while Katehangwa and Mukasa have opted out of this year’s edition to lack of sponsorship, Matsiko and Kateera carry the mantle.

“Let the people of Mbarara and the entire Ankole region know that we are in this sport as competitors and we are ready to show this come this Saturday and Sunday in Mbarara. They only need to keep away nearness to the route roads for their safety, we shall do the needful to make them happy,” Matsiko said.

The pair come afresh with determination to break the jinx as they will be competition among the 39 crews that confirmed participation.

Matsiko who is now upgraded to a division 2 NRC competitor, did not finish the 2022 edition but came back strong navigated by Francis Wamala, to finish 15th overall and 4th in his category in the 2023 edition with a time of 1:57:49:20.

He comes back in the same Subaru Impreza N14 but this time navigated by Alfred Mutanda and says he is ready to take on the best.

 “I am very ready and prepared this time in the same car and i want to give my all to make our fans happy and also tussle it out for an accolade in my category,” Matsiko said.

Arguably, the likes of Jas Mangat (Hyundai i20 R5), Ronald ssebugizi (Ford Fiesta Proto), Yasin Nasser (Ford Fiesta Nemo R5), Duncan Mubiru (Subaru Impreza GVB), Ponsiano Lwakataka (Subaru Impreza N12) seem the top actors but Mitsiko believes tables can turn with carefulness and endurance.