Ugandan crews target strong finish at WRC Safari Rally
Federation of Motorsport Clubs (FMU) Acting President Hajji Hamidu Gombe thanked the drivers for representing the country.
Assistant General Secretary of the National Council of Sports, Milton Chebet (centre), hands over the Uganda flag to drivers Duncan "Kikankane" Mubiru, Oscar Ntambi, Timothy Gawaya, and Uthman Muhamad (from left) during the official flag-off ceremony at Lugogo on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The team is set to compete in the WRC Safari Rally scheduled for Naivasha, Kenya. Looking on (right) are FMU Vice President Hajji Hamidu Gombe, Secretary Reynold Kibira, and Assistant Secretary Jackson Sserwanga. Photo: Johnson Were
Finishing the rally and securing better positions is the top priority for Ugandan crews competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally, scheduled for March 12–15 in Naivasha, Kenya.
Team captain Duncan Mubiru disclosed this to the media on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, during a briefing at the National Council of Sports (NCS) headquarters, held just before the official flag-off by NCS Assistant Secretary Milton Chebet.
The four drivers—Duncan Mubiru, Oscar Ntambi, Yasin Nasser, and Timothy Gawaya—were officially flagged off by Chebet, who also serves as the NCS Assistant General Secretary in charge of technical affairs.
Chebet urged the crews to remain disciplined and to lift the Ugandan flag high. He also promised them a reward if they deliver strong results, noting that the government has a policy in place to reward athletes who perform well in international competitions across all disciplines.
The Assistant General Secretary National Council of Sports Milton Chebet flags off Duncan 'Kikankane' Mubiru at Lugogo to the WRC Safari Rally due in Naivasha Kenya. PHOTO: Johnson Were
“We are proud of you and we want you to represent us well. I know it is going to be tough out there, but remember good performance is rewarded. The government has a policy for those who perform well at international competitions,” Chebet said.
Federation of Motorsport Clubs (FMU) Acting President Hajji Hamidu Gombe thanked the drivers for representing the country and urged them to uphold the image of both the federation and the government of Uganda.
“We want you to fly the Uganda flag and protect our image. As a federation, we are contributing sh10 million to each driver competing in the championship,” Gombe said, before handing over the cheques to the drivers.
The 2026 WRC Safari Rally has attracted a strong lineup in the Rally1 category. The Toyota team will be represented by Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, Sami Pajari, and Oliver Solberg, while the Hyundai team features Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, Adrien Fourmaux, and Hayden Paddon.