It has not been a guarantee that the most successful driver in the Federation of Motorsport Clubs in Uganda (FMU) NRC calendar opener in Mbarara, wins this opener, but it has been, for years, that the winner of this event has on many occasions gone on to win the National title.

The 2024 MPU Mbarara City rally is on this weekend in Mbarara district, Mbarara City and Kiruhura areas, with top drivers vying for the podium finish and or clobber scoring positions to the start of the FMU calendar.

Ace Yassin Nasser navigated by Joseph Kamya in a Ford Fiesta Nemo R5, will be the man to beat, as the new competitor on the globe not only will be defending his Mbarara crown, but also will be aiming at a good start to his NRC title defense.

Yassin’s main rival will be Jas Mangat, who on top of having been among the top winners of opener Mbarara Rally with 3 titles, has acquired a new machine, a Hyundai i20 R5, to the tune or even better than that of his competitor.

Mangat’s new monster was tested and passed the test with the 2023 ARC championship ender in Iringa, Tanzania, which he won with a time on 1:51:27.6 with eventual champion Karan Patel coming second of an event Yassin bowed out.

He has changed from navigater Jules Escartefigue to David Olunga for the event, will be driving in Mbarara for the first time since 2019, having skipped the last two post covid 19 events.

Ronald Ssebugizi has suffered the most misfortunes in Mbarara, with mechanical problems letting him down since last winning it in 2016, but last year, he came second to Yassin with a time of 1:20:12:50 in his new machine Ford Fiesta Proto.

Duncan Mubiru aka Kikankane, is arguably the fans’ darling driver because of his bravery and expertise when it comes to corners and this time round, he resorts to a Subaru Impreza GVB off a Ford Fiesta Proto, which he cruised last year, to finish one minute behind Ssebugizi and in 3rd position.

The four will give each other a run for their money and in the top competition will also be 2022 NRC champion Bayron Rugomoka (Mitsubishi EVO X) and returning Ponsiano Lwakataka who has remained the only top contender with an unchanged nor upgraded car.

Looking at the event right from 2006, Lwakataka has won the most titles (2007, 2010, 2013 and 2022) in his Subaru Impreza N12, while Mangat Mangat (2012, 2018 and 2019) and Duncan Mubiru ‘Kikankane’ (2014, 2015 and 2020) come second with two each.

Since since 2010, only six different drivers have managed to reach the podium in Lwakataka, Suzan Muwonge, Jas Mangat, Duncan Mubiru, Ronald Ssebuguzi and Omar Mayanja and Muwonge and Mayanja are the only non-competitors this time.

There are no female drivers for the third time, after Susan Muwonge and Leilla Mayanja rested their machines, but fans will have a glance at female navigators Nabwami Shakirah navigating Kirumira Edward in a Toyota Corona, Doreen Nabira with Kavuma Amiri in a Subaru Impreza, Mariam Nambasa pairing with Kataza Haruna in a Subaru Impreza N10 and Julius Semambo navigated by Diana Nagawa in a Toyota FX.

Past Mbarara rally winners

2023-Yassin Nasser

2022-Ponsiano Lwakataka

2020-Duncan Mubiru

2019-Jas Mangat

2018-Jas Mangat

2017-Omar Mayanja

2016-Ronald Ssebuguzi

2015-Duncan Mubiru

2014-Duncan Mubiru

2013-Ponsiano Lwakataka

2012-Jas Mangat

2011-Susan Muwonge

2010-Ponsiano Lwakataka

2009-Ronald Ssebuguzi

2008-Dr Ahmed Ashraf

2007-Ponsiano Lwakataka