The 2023 rally season promises to be more gruelling than ever before.

The season starts with a competitors’ symposium on January 20 before the Mbarara Rally which will be the first rally event scheduled for February 10-12 in Mbarara City.

Traditional top crews including Jas Mangat, Duncan Mubiru, Yasin Nasser, and Hassan Alwi had a 2022 season to forget, but are determined to show that they are on the rise.

Ronald Ssebuguzi, the three-time national champion after acquiring a Ford Fiesta R5 last year, is set to attack the season in a bid for another National Rally Championship crown.

“Last year, we were learning the car and we are still learning it, but we are ready for the season. Our colleagues have brought powerful machines, but we are going to attack,” the Shell V-Power fuelled driver said.

Sebuguzi will face stiff opposition from three-time national champion Jas Mangat navigated by Joseph Kamya in a Mitsubishi Lancer N10, 2020/21 champion Duncan Mubiru, and 2019 champion Yasin Nasser who is navigated by Ali Katumba in a Ford Fiesta.

The International University of East Africa ambassador Hassan Alwi navigated by Musa Nsubuga in a Subaru N14 and newly promoted Mike Mukula Jr navigated who is navigated by Hussein Mukuye in a Subaru N14, are the other title hopefuls.