Uganda Motor Rally Drivers Club opts out of elections

By Douglas Mazune

Uganda Motor Rally Drivers Club (UMRDC) which has endured a hostile relationship with the FMU has opted to stay on the sidelines ahead of elections this Saturday.

UMRDC president Duncan Mubiru argued that they had no preferred choice for FMU president because none of the candidates had presented their manifesto to UMRDC members.

Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) founder president Jack Wavamunno, former FMU vice president Kisitu Mayanja and 10-time motocross champion and Speedway Motorsport Club (SMOC) president Arthur Blick are vying for FMU presidency.

Incumbent George Kagimu is not eligible to seek a third term. “We don’t know what they plan to do for the sport. We hope to begin a new chapter with whoever becomes president. We have no reason to trust any of them until he addresses our simple issues,” Mubiru remarked.

Mubiru advised candidates to regard competitors as major stakeholders in the sport. “Our main concern as competitors is putting in place a reliable electronic timing system and fair application of regulations,” Mubiru told New Vision.

At the height of the wrangle between UMRDC and FMU, Mubiru, Nasser Mutebi, John Burrows and Geoffrey Nsamba were controversially banned for six years. FMU lifted the ban five months later after their decision was challenged in courts of law.

The assembly has 84 delegates drawn from 15 clubs and FMU executives.