Ssebuguzi eyes R5/Rally2 Car in bid to fulfil African Rally Championship dream

Twenty-five years after making his rallying debut in 2001, four-time National Rally Championship (NRC) winner Ronald Ssebuguzi is reportedly setting his sights on a new chapter in his career, with plans to acquire a modern R5/Rally2-specification rally car as he pursues his long-standing ambition of becoming an African Rally Championship (ARC) title contender.

Inspired by fellow Ugandan rally driver Charlie Lubega, Ssebuguzi entered the sport with dreams of conquering the African rally scene.

However, his ambition has remained largely unfulfilled, with the limitations of the machinery at his disposal seemingly making it increasingly difficult to compete at the highest level.

In what could be a significant step towards achieving that dream, Ssebuguzi has reportedly sold his Ford Fiesta Proto to Abdul Kateete, the owner of 444 Racing Team. The car has since changed hands and is now based in Namugongo-Sonde, Kikulu Zone, where Kateete operates his team.

Sponsored by Shell V-Power and Centenary Bank, Ssebuguzi has endured a challenging 2026 NRC season, with inconsistent results and mechanical setbacks affecting his campaign.

The defending NRC champion competed in the opening events of the season, finishing 18th at the MPU Mbale Rally and 14th overall at the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally. He subsequently retired from the SMC Masaka Rally due to mechanical problems before finishing 14th overall at the EMC Soroti-Katakwi Rally.

Ssebuguzi's separation from the Ford Fiesta Proto reportedly became particularly significant ahead of the recently concluded Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally in Gulu.

According to sources, Ssebuguzi had hoped to hire the car from Kateete for the event. However, negotiations reportedly failed after Kateete allegedly requested $2,000 to lease the car for the weekend. The deal did not materialise, leaving Ssebuguzi unable to compete in the event despite having completed the registration process.

Kateete, meanwhile, has expressed his intention to make the most of his acquisition.

"I have already paid for that Ford Fiesta Proto. I'm now planning to use it thoroughly well and see how successful it can be in my hands," Kateete confirmed.

Ssebuguzi's desire to compete at continental level is not new. Over the years, the Ugandan driver has made several attempts to test himself against some of Africa's leading rally competitors.

His first notable outing in the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally came in 2004, when he drove a Toyota Celica to an impressive third-place overall finish.

In 2005, he competed in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally with a Subaru Impreza N4, finishing fifth overall. He returned to the Rwandan event in 2010 in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX before taking on the Safari Rally in Kenya in 2011, also driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.

A decade later, Ssebuguzi renewed his international ambitions by participating in the Equator Rally and the Safari Rally in Kenya in 2021.

Despite these appearances, he has yet to mount a sustained challenge for the African Rally Championship title, with his participation in individual events not translating into a full-season campaign capable of establishing him as a serious continental title contender.

A modern R5, now commonly classified under the Rally2 category, would represent a major upgrade for Ssebuguzi. These four-wheel-drive machines are built to compete at a high level, offering advanced engineering, improved performance and the technological sophistication required to challenge established competitors on demanding rally stages.

Acquiring such a car could give the veteran Ugandan driver a stronger platform from which to pursue his African championship ambitions, although the financial commitment involved in purchasing and running a competitive Rally2 machine remains substantial.

Should the plan materialise, Ssebuguzi would join Yasin Nasser among the prominent Ugandan drivers associated with owning and campaigning modern R5/Rally2-specification machinery.