The super lady raves about her life and cars
SHE won last year’s Clubman Rally Championship, a newcomers’ league. Then, in a rather sweet welcome onto the big shots’ scene, she emerged second in the year’s National Rally Championships. A pioneer of female rally driving in Uganda, Susan Muwonge aka super lady, defies conventionality.
SHE won last year’s Clubman Rally Championship, a newcomers’ league. Then, in a rather sweet welcome onto the big shots’ scene, she emerged second in the year’s National Rally Championships. A pioneer of female rally driving in Uganda, Susan Muwonge aka super lady, defies conventionality. Nigel Nassar caught up with her during her training session
You are such a crazy driver, don’t you fear to crash?
Not anymore. I have had a number of crashes and still come out this gorgeous. Lately, I do not even think about it. The moment I step on the accelerator, I get an adrenalin rush that gets me excited.
The only thing on my mind then is cruising the cold out of the engine and making it spit all sorts of sounds — oh! that roaring sound just does it for me.
You should have seen me on the road before I had the restrictor fitted in my car. I used to fly — literally.
Then, rip it off…a car in the skies is no doubt a spectacle
Yeah right! What if I get a crash-landing and they cannot trace the slightest identity of me? The restrictor could prevent this, you know? Even then, I cannot rip it off because every rally driver must have one fitted in their car.
How many crashes are there to your name so far?
Three; two minor ones and a major one. The minor ones happened shortly after December 4, 2005, the day I started racing. Then, in 2006, during the Masaka race, I had a major one that nearly claimed my life.
I was speeding and failed to negotiate a corner. I rolled six times, deforming my Mitsubishi Evolution II and bruising my right hand fingers.
Did you get it back on the road?
I did, but the crash weakened it. I got a Subaru N4, which I am using concurrently with a Subaru N10.
Those are really expensive cars; you must be loaded…
It is all my husband, Lawrence Muwonge’s money. He buys the cars, fuels them and pays for their maintenance.
He must be a tycoon
He is a romantic guy who knows what pleases his girl.
Well, being romantic does not deliver a pay cheque to his doorstep, does it?
Okay, I will tell you. He is the director and head teacher of Buddo Secondary School.
Wow, you two are definitely rich. How much did each of your racing cars cost?
I do not want to go into figures. It will scare away those who want to join the sport.
So is rallying all you do?
I run small businesses in town. I am also a teacher and the director of St. Francis Junior School, Buddo. So my normal day involves teaching and overseeing school activities, except Wednesdays, which I dedicate to my family. On some weekends, I do occasional racing for fun and staying fit in case of a race.
Speaking of age, do you mention yours?
Sure, why not? I am 36.
Is that real or it is for the press?
Well, last year I was 30. But I have reconsidered. I am now 36. And I am serious this time.
Wow…So it is a matter of choice for you, or you have met another guy who now wants you to be 36?
Come on, I am married — M-a-r-r-i-e-d (she spells it). And you know what? I am only for Lawrence.
Okay, I will buy you a sleeker Subaru, how’s that?
I am not for sale.
So I can have you for free?
Ask your next question…
Who made the first move, you or Lawrence?
He did. How on earth could I be seen hitting on a guy? It is only today that crazy girls make moves on men. During our days, you sat and waited for him to say it — even if you liked him.
How did he pull it off?
Does it matter? Well, a lot of time has passed — more than 10 years. I do not even recall how he approached me. But he had gone to open his school in Buddo, just a short distance from my granny’s home, where I grew up.
And there I was, a beautiful and reserved high school girl. Before I knew it, we were in love.
Even when I joined Makerere University Business School for a Bachelor of Business Studies, and later for a Diploma in Childhood Studies at Kyambogo University, the college influence did not sway me. We loved each other all the way to the altar on October 29, 1999.
What attracted you to Lawrence?
A lot, not forgetting his handsomeness. He was gentle, respectful, romantic — the list is endless. What if I say more and some lonely woman out there goes for my dude? I am kidding, no one will take him.
More so, he enjoyed doing things with me, like teaching me to drive. That was a year prior to our marriage. I also fell in love with speed.
Most times he had to ask me to slow down, saying he was not yet ready to die before marrying me.
He would joke that maybe I was meant to be a rally driver, but I would not pay attention. Then one day, he took me to watch a rally and there was no woman on the race track.
Subconsciously, I started seeing myself beating the men and when Lawrence jokingly hinted at my joining the sport, I was sucked in. And here I am, a pioneer of female rallying in Uganda.
Do you drive ‘normally’?
Yes I do. When on the race track, the traffic is contained, so you are free to fire. But with our Kampala traffic, you cannot speed.
But most times, I am tempted to step on the accelerator the moment I get a fairly free way, especially when I am running late.
Do you have a ‘normal’ car for other duties?
Of course, my cars are normal. Anyway, I have a Pajero Short Chassis.
Don’t women taunt you for your hand in a sport generally attributed to men?
They regard me highly for not conforming to such gender biases.
I imagine men fear asking you out
You think so? Men will be men. They have this saying that a rat, however big it grows, remains food for a cat. And they follow it to the letter. You make friends and they want to be more than just friends. You joke with men — no amount of being like them will keep them away as long as you wear a skirt.
Something tells me you were a tomboy while growing up…
I was. I used to compete in bicycle riding with the boys at home and they could not believe that I could beat them to it. I also liked wearing baggy jeans and sneakers. In fact, those who knew me in the past, are taken aback when they run into me.
And this super lady alias?
It is my compliment — a constant reminder that I am good at what I do and that I deserve the best, I am a super lady.
Considering that all you do is spend on the sport without earning from it, what is in it?
Excitement. I do not mind about the spending, after all racing make me happy. Besides, I win trophies, which makes Lawrence and our four children proud. In fact, car racing is our children’s pastime. When playing, they give each other rally drivers’ names.
The two boys call themselves Rose Lwakataka and Laila Mayanja, who are the other famous female rally drivers.
The girl takes up Susan Muwonge, who crashes and fails to finish.
Then at some other competition, she wins and comes home with a trophy, causing excitement in the house. In fact, our last-born, a two-year-old girl, has also started mimicking the sound of a rally car. She sees me coming back home and goes ‘voom-voom.’
You are such a crazy driver, don’t you fear to crash?
Not anymore. I have had a number of crashes and still come out this gorgeous. Lately, I do not even think about it. The moment I step on the accelerator, I get an adrenalin rush that gets me excited.
The only thing on my mind then is cruising the cold out of the engine and making it spit all sorts of sounds — oh! that roaring sound just does it for me.
You should have seen me on the road before I had the restrictor fitted in my car. I used to fly — literally.
Then, rip it off…a car in the skies is no doubt a spectacle
Yeah right! What if I get a crash-landing and they cannot trace the slightest identity of me? The restrictor could prevent this, you know? Even then, I cannot rip it off because every rally driver must have one fitted in their car.
How many crashes are there to your name so far?
Three; two minor ones and a major one. The minor ones happened shortly after December 4, 2005, the day I started racing. Then, in 2006, during the Masaka race, I had a major one that nearly claimed my life.
I was speeding and failed to negotiate a corner. I rolled six times, deforming my Mitsubishi Evolution II and bruising my right hand fingers.
Did you get it back on the road?
I did, but the crash weakened it. I got a Subaru N4, which I am using concurrently with a Subaru N10.
Those are really expensive cars; you must be loaded…
It is all my husband, Lawrence Muwonge’s money. He buys the cars, fuels them and pays for their maintenance.
He must be a tycoon
He is a romantic guy who knows what pleases his girl.
Well, being romantic does not deliver a pay cheque to his doorstep, does it?
Okay, I will tell you. He is the director and head teacher of Buddo Secondary School.
Wow, you two are definitely rich. How much did each of your racing cars cost?
I do not want to go into figures. It will scare away those who want to join the sport.
So is rallying all you do?
I run small businesses in town. I am also a teacher and the director of St. Francis Junior School, Buddo. So my normal day involves teaching and overseeing school activities, except Wednesdays, which I dedicate to my family. On some weekends, I do occasional racing for fun and staying fit in case of a race.
Speaking of age, do you mention yours?
Sure, why not? I am 36.
Is that real or it is for the press?
Well, last year I was 30. But I have reconsidered. I am now 36. And I am serious this time.
Wow…So it is a matter of choice for you, or you have met another guy who now wants you to be 36?
Come on, I am married — M-a-r-r-i-e-d (she spells it). And you know what? I am only for Lawrence.
Okay, I will buy you a sleeker Subaru, how’s that?
I am not for sale.
So I can have you for free?
Ask your next question…
Who made the first move, you or Lawrence?
He did. How on earth could I be seen hitting on a guy? It is only today that crazy girls make moves on men. During our days, you sat and waited for him to say it — even if you liked him.
How did he pull it off?
Does it matter? Well, a lot of time has passed — more than 10 years. I do not even recall how he approached me. But he had gone to open his school in Buddo, just a short distance from my granny’s home, where I grew up.
And there I was, a beautiful and reserved high school girl. Before I knew it, we were in love.
Even when I joined Makerere University Business School for a Bachelor of Business Studies, and later for a Diploma in Childhood Studies at Kyambogo University, the college influence did not sway me. We loved each other all the way to the altar on October 29, 1999.
What attracted you to Lawrence?
A lot, not forgetting his handsomeness. He was gentle, respectful, romantic — the list is endless. What if I say more and some lonely woman out there goes for my dude? I am kidding, no one will take him.
More so, he enjoyed doing things with me, like teaching me to drive. That was a year prior to our marriage. I also fell in love with speed.
Most times he had to ask me to slow down, saying he was not yet ready to die before marrying me.
He would joke that maybe I was meant to be a rally driver, but I would not pay attention. Then one day, he took me to watch a rally and there was no woman on the race track.
Subconsciously, I started seeing myself beating the men and when Lawrence jokingly hinted at my joining the sport, I was sucked in. And here I am, a pioneer of female rallying in Uganda.
Do you drive ‘normally’?
Yes I do. When on the race track, the traffic is contained, so you are free to fire. But with our Kampala traffic, you cannot speed.
But most times, I am tempted to step on the accelerator the moment I get a fairly free way, especially when I am running late.
Do you have a ‘normal’ car for other duties?
Of course, my cars are normal. Anyway, I have a Pajero Short Chassis.
Don’t women taunt you for your hand in a sport generally attributed to men?
They regard me highly for not conforming to such gender biases.
I imagine men fear asking you out
You think so? Men will be men. They have this saying that a rat, however big it grows, remains food for a cat. And they follow it to the letter. You make friends and they want to be more than just friends. You joke with men — no amount of being like them will keep them away as long as you wear a skirt.
Something tells me you were a tomboy while growing up…
I was. I used to compete in bicycle riding with the boys at home and they could not believe that I could beat them to it. I also liked wearing baggy jeans and sneakers. In fact, those who knew me in the past, are taken aback when they run into me.
And this super lady alias?
It is my compliment — a constant reminder that I am good at what I do and that I deserve the best, I am a super lady.
Considering that all you do is spend on the sport without earning from it, what is in it?
Excitement. I do not mind about the spending, after all racing make me happy. Besides, I win trophies, which makes Lawrence and our four children proud. In fact, car racing is our children’s pastime. When playing, they give each other rally drivers’ names.
The two boys call themselves Rose Lwakataka and Laila Mayanja, who are the other famous female rally drivers.
The girl takes up Susan Muwonge, who crashes and fails to finish.
Then at some other competition, she wins and comes home with a trophy, causing excitement in the house. In fact, our last-born, a two-year-old girl, has also started mimicking the sound of a rally car. She sees me coming back home and goes ‘voom-voom.’