Although the National Rally Championship was claimed by Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba three, the battle for the positions is still going on and this time round the second last calendar event that will take place between 20-22 October has been taken to Gomba and Sembabule.
Former champion Ronald Ssebuguzi in second position will be battling with Ibrahim Lubega who is trailing him with only 12 points the former having collected 250 points while the later has 238 points and Dancan Mubiru (Kikankane) is in fourth position with 233points.
The clerk of the course, Shafic Matovu said that this rally event has two main competitive sections the first one being Kampala – Gomba of 100 km then Gomba- Ssembabule of 70 km other are Kanoni- Bukandula 24 km, Festo 18 km and Kabenge Hill 1.5 km which will be of two lanes, Toyota 12km, Gombe 11km and lugusulu 18km. The sections for Gombe and Toyota will be repeated.
A total distance of 292 km will be covered of which 141 km will be competitive and 151 km will be for transport and drivers will have 30 minutes rest and do service of their machines while the event is expected to be concluded by 1:00 pm on the 3rd day they prizes will be award soon after at Bwera Bistro Restaurant the co-sponsor of the event.
The FMU vice president Kibira warn MOSAC Rally club the organizers of this 6th calendar event to ensure maximum safety for the fans and he also sounded optimistic that the event will be competitive because drivers are looking up to sealing their positions.
Kibira also said that the federation will partly incur some of the costs for Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba who are Uganda’s representatives in the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) that is about to be concluded.
“ We are thirsty as a country for winning the ARC and this is why the Federation is coming out to help the representatives in some costs like catering for their accommodation while in Zambia and some fuel to be used in the competition.’’ Kibira said.
Uganda is represented by Yasin Nasser who is close to winning the ARC and Jas Mangat who are already in Zambia preparing for the event. Charles Muhangi was the first Black African to win continent’s most coveted Rally Title, the African Rally Championship setting the stage for a new breed of rally drivers in Uganda and Africa.
By George Bukenya