Cycling fever hits Busoga as Kyabazinga flags off Masaza tourney

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Excitement is mounting among Basoga cycling enthusiasts as the 2nd edition of the MTN-Busoga Masaza Cycling Championship nears its January 18, 2025 start date.

The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV, officially launched the championship on January 10, 2025, at the kingdom headquarters in Bugembe, Jinja city.

Kyabazinga Nadiope IV demonstrated his enthusiasm by cycling an impressive half a kilometre to launch the event. He was flanked by key kingdom officials, including prime minister Dr Joseph Muvawala, second deputy Al-Haji Osman Ahmed Noor, Jinja South East MP Nathan Igeme Nabeta, and cyclists preparing for the event.

Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV (L) chating with Jinja South East constituency's legislator Nathan Igeme Nabeta (M) and Busoga Kingdom's 2nd deputy prime minister Alhaji Osman Ahmed Noor (R). (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

Before the Kyabazinga’s launch, a press conference was held where Dr Muvawala and Al-Haji Osman addressed the media about the competition.

The press conference featured Busoga’s sports minister Amin Bbosa, Kyabazinga affairs minister Yudaya Babirye, youth minister James Mukembo, kingdom spokesperson and protocol officer Andrew Ntange, MTN Uganda’s sponsorship and events manager John Paul Okwi, and deputy sports minister Daniel Musota.

Dr Muvawala hailed MTN Uganda, the main sponsor of the cycling championship, for being a dependable development partner in ObwaKyabazinga bwa Busoga since the success of the first MTN-Busoga Masaza Cycling Competition in 2022, and he encouraged the company to sustain its partnership with OBB.

Dr Muvawala also urged competitors to refrain from cheating and called for high standards of discipline throughout the competition.

Al-Haji Osman expressed gratitude to MTN for its unwavering support towards OBB and its developmental programmes.

MTN Uganda’s Okwi highlighted that the MTN-Busoga Masaza Cycling Championship aligns with the company’s mission to inspire positive societal transformation.

“I express my appreciation to the Kyabazinga of Busoga for allowing MTN to be part of this kingdom initiative—and today we celebrate a spirit of unity and resilience. This championship has a special meaning to MTN because it is a celebration of hope,” Okwi said.

Busoga Kingdom's Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muvawala (2nd R) addressing a press conference during the launch of the MTN-Busoga masaza cycling championship at the kingdom headquarters on Friday. Looking on is the second deputy prime minister Alhaji Osman Ahmed Noor (R), MTN Uganda's John Paul Okwi (M), Kyabazinga Affairs Minister Yudaya Babirye (2nd L) and the kingdom's Youth Minister James Mukembo (L). (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

The kingdom’s sports minister, Amin Bbosa, disclosed that preliminary races to select cyclists representing the 11 chiefdoms of Busoga—namely Butembe, Bugabula BB, Bunha, Luuka, Bukooli, Bulamogi, Busiki, Bunhole Bunhanhumba, Bukono, Kigulu, and Bugweri—will run from January 18 to February 2, 2025.

Bbosa outlined that competitors will participate in two categories within each chiefdom: the Tippa (commonly known as Maani ga Kifuba) bicycles and mountain sports bikes.

Each chiefdom will contribute four racers to the grand finale, comprising two from each category. The grand finale is slated for February 15, 2025, at the Kingdom level.

Bbosa explained that the preliminary races will kick off on January 18 in Luuka and Bulamogi chiefdoms, proceed to Bukooli and Bunhole chiefdoms on January 19, Busiki and Bunha chiefdoms on January 25, Bugabula and Bukono chiefdoms on January 26, Kigulu and Bugweri chiefdoms on February 1, and culminate in Butembe chiefdom on February 2.

The specific distances for each race will be announced in due course, Bbosa added.

He further revealed the rewards for the grand finale winners. Victors in each category will receive brand-new motorcycles, while the first runners-up will take home sh2 million each. Second runners-up will be awarded sh1 million, fourth-place finishers will earn sh500,000, and fifth-place cyclists in both categories will receive sh300,000 each. Cyclists finishing outside the top five positions will be given a token of sh50,000 each.

Bukooli emerged as champions in the Tippa category, while Butembe chiefdom won the Mountain Sports Bike category during the inaugural 2022 MTN-Busoga Cycling Championship.