The crew of Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba is ready to break the 24-year jinx of winning the Africa Rally Championship (ARC). The late Charles Muhangi was the last Ugandan to win the championship in 1999. The crew of Jas Mangat and Gihan-de-Silva (who is now Mangat’s manager) came closer to winning the championship but failed to finish in the Madagascar Rally in 2013.

Nasser revealed this after they won their fourth accolade in row at the Fortebet Real Stars Sports Monthly Awards at Lazio Restaurant, Kololo today. They beat the crew of Ponsiano Lwakataka and Paul Musaazi plus Jas Mangat and Joseph Kamya to the award.

 “This is our sixth time we are winning this accolade this year. We still have six events to go in both the Tanzania championships and ARC. We are working hard to make sure ARC comes to Uganda since it has been a long time,” reasoned Nasser.

The moil team won the SMC Masaka Rally to be crowned champions of the National Rally Championship (NRC) with one round to spare. In their Ford Fiesta R5, the duo did a time of 1 hour, 27 minutes and 02 seconds after a competitive distance of 134.53km.

They also went to Burundi and finished second at Burundi International Rally in Bujumbura to remain top of the ARC (Africa Rally Championship).

The awards were graced by Real Stars Sports Agency CEO Isaac Mukasa,the organisers of the awards, ForteBet assistant media manager Resty Mbatidde and Henry Zimbe (Jude Colour solutions promotions manager).

Yassin Nasser(left) recieving his award from Rest Mbatidde(right) of ForteBet.

Victor Kiplangat who won the country’s second ever world marathon title in 2 hours 8 minutes 53 seconds on August 27 at the 2023 World Athletics Championships was voted the best athlete from athletics for the month of August.

Kiplangat who received this milestone 10 years after compatriot Stephen Kiprotich won the title in Moscow in 2013 beat Joshua Cheptegei (who also won gold in 10,000km at the same event) and Stephen Kissa to the accolade.

The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) president Dominic Otuchet who represented Kiplangat attributed his resistance to discipline.

“It’s not easy to win and qualify for the World Championship. I want to congratulate all those athletes that were part of Team Uganda. Victor is God fearing and assistant pastor in his church. He is a well-disciplined athlete,” noted Otuchet.

Netballer Shadia Nassanga who was She Cranes best player at the Netball World Cup in South Africa after scoring 122 goals won the accolade ahead of Margret Bagala of NIC and Mary Nuba of Loughborough Lightning in England.

“I happy that I won this accolade. I have been nominated before at these awards but I had not won. This is going to push me to win more,” noted Nassanga.

Uganda’s lightweight boxer Wasswa Amir Ssali who settled for a silver medal at the Africa Boxing Championship in Cameroon was the best ahead of Erinah Namutebi and Ukasha Matovu.

“I didn’t expect to win this. I thank God that I have made me reach this far. I want to thank Uganda Boxing Federation president (Moses Muhangi) for giving me an opportunity to perform. This accolade is going to push me to perform more,” stressed out Ssali.

Forward Mukwana who scored goals in four games for Kyaggwe although his side failed to make it to quarterfinals of the Masaza Cup was the best in football. Mukwana hailed Kyaggwe for the opportunity.

“I want to thank Kyaggwe for giving me an opportunity since others may have failed to do so. I also want them to promote talent,” stated Mukwana.

Brian Balinnya was the best Ludo player. The assistant captain Ntinda United Ludo Club won the Individual Ludo Championship after beating Muhammed Kayaaya from Impact Ludo Club in the final.

“It was not easy to win the championship. But I managed to beat all odds to win.  This accolade paid off my sweat,” noted Balinya.

ForteBet assistant media manager Mbatidde promised support to the winners

“As long as the awards are still around, we shall support them. We want to motivate and promote talent in Uganda. I want to congratulate the nominees and you are already a winner. This is your time to shine and continue working hard,”Mbatidde emphasized at the awards.

However Henry Zimbe,Jude Colour solutions promotions manager, cautioned the winners to always be determined to be winners.

“I want to appreciate the winners and please keep on pushing. What you have won should motivate you to win more,” Zimbe reasoned.

Apart from the accolades, the winners also received  sh500,000 each for their outstanding performances.