Rwakataka and Orland reignite Uganda's motorsport passion

At 51, two time National Rally Championship winner, Ponsiano Rwakataka and 20-year-old Stav Orland; a rookie in motorcross, combined this month to re-kindle old passions among motorsport fans.  

A huge fan of speed merchant Emma Kato in the late 1990s, I switched to his protege Rwakataka who came through as a natural talent but quickly rose through the ranks in the middle of the 2000s. He was devilishly fast and breathtakingly daring. 

My attention to Stav Orland was first drawn in 2015 in the motorcross event at Busiika in the 85cc category after his brother Aviv Orland upset the fancied Fortune Sentamu and Paddy Blick. Stav finished fourth at the event. He was only 10 years. The crowds cheered and bowed to this courageous kid who exhibited talent with a display of audacious skill and flair while hanging in the air as though he belonged. Two-and-a-half weeks ago, I was in Masaka for the second round of the 2025 National Rally Championship. 

The dust filled roads surrounded by coffee and banana plantations played home to thousands of motor rally revellers who were intent on making this another celebration of motorsport. Turbo-charged engines roared and rumbled through the dusty terrain but yet again, it was Rwakataka who got the adrenalin running high with his raw hunger. He wants to win his third championship. After one 1 hour and 29 minutes, the pint sized driver who is also a fisherman had won his second event of the year. He is desperate to succeed Jas Mangat who won his fourth national championship last year.

In the same week, young motorcross sensation Stav was breaking new ground for Uganda in the United States. Even his parents; Barrack and Evans Orland, wouldn’t have dreamt that at 20; while making his debut in the American Motorcross Championship, the boy would finish 18th among 70 elite riders of world class acclaim. He only turned professional in November and was in America only for the exposure and experience. History now shows that Stav is the sixth African rider to compete at this event previously dominated by South Africans and the first Ugandan. Video footage showed Stav braving the intimidating road circuits like a veteran rider with intent to embarrass the elite riders. 

Commentators struggled to identify the nation of his origin but this little dare devil didn’t care. He was intent on thrilling while competing in the 250SX West category where he finished 8th in group C to advance to the heats amongst the top 40 riders. When he clinched third place to earn his sport in the 22-rider main event, the world took note; a Ugandan rookie had arrived . No wonder Arthur Blick Jr, Uganda’s blue print of motor sport said after; “Stav is the best rider Uganda has ever produced.”  As a record holder of 20 championships including 13 National Motorcross Championships, Blick  knows talent when he sees one. Believe him. Stav’s parents are the proprietors of Extreme Adventure Park in Busiika which has become legendary at hosting national events in the sport and training youngsters with a dream. Stav’s talent, passion, unbreakable spirit and determination to transcend all barriers are now well placed to propel him to the top. Probably, even threaten Blick Jr’s legacy.

Rwakataka has already proved that success in motorsport is about talent, raw determination, passion, hard work and focus. His incarceration in May 2023, couldn’t turn his fortunes. He returned six months later to compete at the highest level and he is now one event away from  winning his third national championship. At 16, Stav finished seventh and fifth in the MX2 and MX1 respectively during the South Africa Dirt bike festival in Pretoria. The year was 2021. It was a sign of things to come. Rwakataka told me, the huge investment needed is motorsport’s biggest challenge.He is lucky that his Mafu Mafu racing team has a supportive fan base. Fortunately, motocross’s burgeoning talent Stav, has his parents; Barrack and Evans, as his biggest fans.