Ssebuguzi comes into NRC title contention
Mar 28, 2011
RONALD Ssebuguzi may have started his season three months late but showed no signs of rust, winning four of seven sections in the second leg to claim the UMOSPOC Challenge Rally in Masaka on Sunday.
By Douglas Mazune
RONALD Ssebuguzi may have started his season three months late but showed no signs of rust, winning four of seven sections in the second leg to claim the UMOSPOC Challenge Rally in Masaka on Sunday.
Ssebuguzi navigated by Justin Mungoma in Mitsubishi Evo9 reaped 100 points to get into contention for the 2011 National Rally Championship. He moved within 60 points of championship leader Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge who finished third to stay atop the chart.
“I need a lot of money to repair my car and hopefully compete in the next race if funds allow. It was a hard-fought win that even (Ponsiano) Lwakataka acknowledged and telephoned to congratulate me. That should be the spirit,†Ssebuguzi said.
The championship remains a close contest after Edson Munghereza finished fourth again while national champion Nasser Mutebi, on his first outing in a Subaru N8, claimed second spot to tie with Wycliff ‘Roll Master’ Bukenya on 75 points apiece.
Bukenya led the race for the better part of the second leg and was sidelined by mechanical problems in the last section but could still afford a smile. The 57-year-old Bukenya had no championship points to celebrate but left Masaka gloating having come good on his threat to overtake Muwonge in the 60-km section.
“I caught her in just 22-km and it took about 5-km to overtake. She didn’t easily give way for which she apologized and I am not complaining. I enjoyed the race but did not get a result. That’s the nature of our sport. I will be back for the next rally in May,†he stated.
The same 60-km section Mutebi overtook Mansur Sanya and Godfrey Kiyaga and received wild cheers from a crowd that included his father Ahmed Semanda and 90-year-old grandfather Rajab Kakooza. The Kidda flying finish in Bukomansimbi was in Mutebi’s home area.
“My clan has countless great drivers. There was no way my grandson was going to let us down especially in his home area,†a cheerful Kakooza remarked.
Lwakataka, Godfrey Lubega and Bukenya were some of top drivers who dropped out. Peter Kakaire (Subaru N4), Edson Munghereza (Subaru) and Ismail Otega (Levin) put up a decent show.
RONALD Ssebuguzi may have started his season three months late but showed no signs of rust, winning four of seven sections in the second leg to claim the UMOSPOC Challenge Rally in Masaka on Sunday.
Ssebuguzi navigated by Justin Mungoma in Mitsubishi Evo9 reaped 100 points to get into contention for the 2011 National Rally Championship. He moved within 60 points of championship leader Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge who finished third to stay atop the chart.
“I need a lot of money to repair my car and hopefully compete in the next race if funds allow. It was a hard-fought win that even (Ponsiano) Lwakataka acknowledged and telephoned to congratulate me. That should be the spirit,†Ssebuguzi said.
The championship remains a close contest after Edson Munghereza finished fourth again while national champion Nasser Mutebi, on his first outing in a Subaru N8, claimed second spot to tie with Wycliff ‘Roll Master’ Bukenya on 75 points apiece.
Bukenya led the race for the better part of the second leg and was sidelined by mechanical problems in the last section but could still afford a smile. The 57-year-old Bukenya had no championship points to celebrate but left Masaka gloating having come good on his threat to overtake Muwonge in the 60-km section.
“I caught her in just 22-km and it took about 5-km to overtake. She didn’t easily give way for which she apologized and I am not complaining. I enjoyed the race but did not get a result. That’s the nature of our sport. I will be back for the next rally in May,†he stated.
The same 60-km section Mutebi overtook Mansur Sanya and Godfrey Kiyaga and received wild cheers from a crowd that included his father Ahmed Semanda and 90-year-old grandfather Rajab Kakooza. The Kidda flying finish in Bukomansimbi was in Mutebi’s home area.
“My clan has countless great drivers. There was no way my grandson was going to let us down especially in his home area,†a cheerful Kakooza remarked.
Lwakataka, Godfrey Lubega and Bukenya were some of top drivers who dropped out. Peter Kakaire (Subaru N4), Edson Munghereza (Subaru) and Ismail Otega (Levin) put up a decent show.