Ssegaabwe: Uganda’s rising rally star bets big on the Škoda Fabia RS N5

As Uganda’s motorsport calendar prepares to roar into life this March, an unmistakable tension hangs over the rally fraternity.

Musa Ssegaabwe, one of the youngest drivers in the National Rally Championship (NRC), has raised the bar with the acquisition of a Škoda Fabia RS N5, a rally car unlike any previously seen on African soil.

Valued at approximately €150,000 (sh631.5 million), with an additional €35,000 invested in durable spare parts, the Fabia RS N5 is the first of its kind in Uganda and across the continent.

Built by RMC Motorsport, a Spanish firm founded in 2010 by renowned rally engineer Roberto Méndez, the Fabia RS N5 represents the cutting edge of modern rally engineering. RMC-built cars have competed and triumphed across Europe and South America, from Spain and Italy to Lithuania and Peru.

Ssegaabwe recently returned from León, Spain, where he spent nearly a month undergoing intensive training on the car alongside his navigator, Mathias Kiyega. The Fabia RS N5 is a prototype-level rally machine, powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and equipped with advanced electronics, refined suspension geometry, and data-driven performance systems that demand precision and discipline from its driver.

Ssegaabwe’s journey is one of gradual construction rather than sudden emergence. Born and raised in Luwero District, he grew up far from the glamour of professional motorsport, yet deeply immersed in its allure. As a boy, he watched rally cars tear through dusty countryside roads, engines roaring with authority, and quietly nurtured a dream shaped by Ugandan rally icons such as Karim Hirji and Moses Lumala.

Like many young enthusiasts, his earliest attempts at speed came through street racing on the outskirts of Kampala. The thrill was intoxicating, but the dangers were evident, illegal, unregulated, and ultimately unsustainable.

In 2023, Ssegaabwe officially entered competitive rallying with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, beginning his journey in Autocross. He immediately made his mark, winning the championship in his debut season. The following year, he stepped up to the Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) and again emerged victorious.

Then came a decision that startled many within the rally community. Rather than progressing conventionally into the two-wheel-drive category, the Segamu 14 Racing team director leapt directly into the sport’s highest local tier, the NRC in 2025.

In his first NRC season, Ssegaabwe demonstrated composure, speed, and tactical maturity well beyond his years. He finished second overall, narrowly missing the championship by just 7.5 points, as Ronald Ssebuguzi claimed the title with 302 points. Several veteran drivers, who had spent years contesting the NRC, were left trailing behind the newcomer.

Now, with the introduction of the Škoda Fabia RS N5, the competitive balance has shifted yet again. Rivals speak in hushed tones. Strategies are being reconsidered. For many, the question is no longer whether Ssegaabwe can win a national title, but how to stop him.

“We have been in Spain for almost a month learning every detail of this car,” Ssegaabwe explains. “We don’t want to leave anything to chance. Our objective for the 2026 season is clear, we want the NRC title.”

His co-driver, who also serves as the team’s lead mechanic, underwent specialized technical training in Spain. Engineers from RMC Motorsport are expected to travel to Uganda to support the team and facilitate skills transfer to local mechanics.

Away from the stages and service parks, Ssegaabwe presents a different profile altogether. He is a highly trained environmental engineer, holding diplomas in Networking and Environmental Impact Assessment, a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, and a Master’s degree in Environment and Natural Resources.

He is also the Managing Director of Segamu 14 Consults Limited, an engineering consultancy specializing in infrastructure design, feasibility studies, and project supervision. The firm is the primary sponsor of Segamu 14 Racing, financing a motorsport program built on accountability, planning, and professionalism.

Despite the challenges in the sport, Ssegaabwe welcomes the tax exemptions on rally cars, engines, and gearboxes, which have provided relief. Yet he hopes these exemptions will extend to spare parts and tyres, which remain the greatest recurring expense.

Beyond competition, Ssegaabwe is a family man, married and a father of three, including twins. These responsibilities keep him grounded and focused beyond the pursuit of trophies.

As the 2026 season approaches, Musa Ssegaabwe stands at a pivotal juncture. He has the machinery. He has the preparation. He has the experience of coming agonizingly close. His ambition is neither hidden nor apologetic.

“I am not here to participate,” he says. “I am here to win.”