Ssebuguzi is the man to beat in 2013

By Douglas Mazune

R. Ssebuguzi 6:16:69

S. Ssemujju 6:21:08

D. Mubiru 6:24:31

W. Bukenya 6:31:63

J. Costa 6:39:72

P. Lwakataka 6:46.07

G. Wampamba 6:58.00

E. Munghereza 7:05.25

J. Kansiime 7:09.57

I. Otega 7:22.16

Ronald Ssebuguzi stretched his form of last season into 2013, clocking 6 minutes 16.69 seconds to win the Premier Sprint on Sunday, his fourth victory in a row.

The Jomayi Property Consultants driver, in a Mitsubishi Evo9, beat Shafiq Ssemuju by five seconds in race that attracted 22 drivers at Lubiri circuit.

“I warned way back in October that I wouldn’t give my competitors a chance. This is an encouraging start to the season. I hope to maintain the form and hopefully win the 2013 National Rally Championship,” an elated Ssebuguzi remarked.

In a bid to wrestle the national championship from Air Uganda sponsored Jas Mangat, Ssebuguzi will go route reccing for the Mbararara Rally this weekend.

Duncan Mubiru finished third, eight seconds off the pace but will not score points having registered late for the race.

Wycliff Bukenya, John Consta and Ponsiano Lwakataka were fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Meanwhile, Mangat’s quest to win both the Uganda and Kenya national championship started on shaky note having had three punctures in the KCB Kajiado Rally in Nairobi on Sunday. He finished seventh overall.

Mangat lost over 15 minutes early in the race, dropping to 15th position in the opening round of the Kenya championship. Only 30 crews, out of the starting 55 finished the race.