Omunyeeto returns: Veteran driver Byona back after seven-year hiatus
Byona, popularly known as Omunyeeto, returns to active competition after a nearly seven-year sabbatical but targets finishing the event in a good position.
Ambrose Byona. PHOTO: Johnson Were
Re-adjusting to intensity and shaking off the rust will be Ambrose Byona’s top challenge, as the veteran driver returns to the wheel in the competitive Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Kiruhura and Mbarara districts.
Byona, popularly known as Omunyeeto, returns to active competition after a nearly seven-year sabbatical but targets finishing the event in a good position.
Driving a Mitsubishi Evolution X, nicknamed "Beat," Omunyeeto must also prioritize reliability over speed, as many drivers returning from such a long break fail to focus on finishing their first event back instead of chasing immediate podium finishes.
Byona, who will also be learning the dynamics of a left-hand drive car, has vowed to give the event favorites a run for their money while re-learning the car's dynamics.
“We are going to be cautious where necessary, but we shall push where it requires,” said Byona, who is navigated by female co-driver Suzan Kalema.
Byona is making a surprise return to the top level with the Evo X, a superior car to the Evo IX he used to race before the break and brings excitement to the fans who have long been longing for him.
He is sponsored by Yaobai Cement, Lato Milk, Optima Mines and Minerals, Kabango Coffee, and Kamuntu and Transporters.
The 2026 Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally has attracted 64 competitors, including 23 foreign crews, and is sponsored by KCB Bank, UTB, Nivana Water, NCS, Kiss Condom, and Fire and Safety Appliance.