By Venessa Namusabi
Early this year FMU injected sh40m in the Ugandan crews that ventured in the 2026 WRC Safari rally in Naivasha Kenya.
There was praise from the competing fraternity and critics from many who thought that it was not worth investing in since no Ugandan crew apart from Yasin Nasser and his navigator Ali Katumba would make an impact.
However, the crew of Oscar Ntambi and Uthman Muhamed in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 proved many wrong after four days of gruelling global rally that is undoubtedly the toughest rally in the world.
The KCB bank fuelled driver, exhibited incredible composure to finish 22nd overall and earned a podium finish on the Africa rally Championship category 2 (ARC2) after the tougher 19 stages to bring home results.
The result is a big boost to the team in their chase of the continental title in the second category of the championship.
Yasin Nasser, the reigning African Champion, saw his campaign cut short on Friday due to mechanical difficulty, while Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru persevered but could not finish the rally that had Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta co-driven by Aaron Johnston emerge champions.
All in all, the 2026 WRC Safari Rally lived up to its billing as the “world’s toughest rally,” delivering a weekend of grueling conditions that tested the all crews including the Ugandan contingent to their absolute limits.
To the Uganda’s despite the setbacks, with the crews, the presence of the Ugandan fans was felt.
The focus now shifts to the first round of the KCB national rally championship in Mbale on the weekend of March 27-28, 2028.
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