Excitement builds for Mbarara Rally 2025

Rally enthusiasts heading to Mbarara for the famous Mbarara Rally, scheduled for January 24–26, will enjoy special entertainment from the participating rally crews as they race through sections designed to thrill and captivate.

The event, the official opener of the Federation of Motorsport Clubs in Uganda (FMU) 2025 calendar, is organised by Motorsport Promotions Uganda (MPU) in collaboration with Mwesigwa Rukaari Resorts and FMU.

According to Clerk of Course (COC) Kisutu Mayanja, the rally sections have been meticulously designed to highlight the essence of rallying.

“The sections are fast, and fans can look forward to an exciting event. We’ve crafted them to allow drivers to display their skills, showcasing the true essence of rallying—the harmony between man and machine. The tracks are not rough, ensuring enjoyment and spirited competition,” Mayanja explained.

While the exact routes remain undisclosed as per rally regulations—drivers are only informed a few days prior—Mayanja revealed that the sections are set in the Biharwe, Sanga, and Akakyapa areas, with each section being raced 2–3 times.

The Special Super Stage (SSS) will take place at the Mwesigwa Rukaari Resort arena. Drivers will complete two laps on a 1.8 km stretch, totaling 3.6 km.
Rescheduled Competition Days

In a departure from previous Mbarara Rally formats, this year’s event features a revised schedule. Car scrutineering will occur on Thursday, January 23. Competition will take place over two days, Friday and Saturday (January 24–25), with Sunday reserved for an early return to Kampala.

Event Launch on January 10

The rally will be officially launched on Saturday, January 10, at Mwesigwa Rukaari Resorts in Kibega, Kiruhura. The launch will be attended by MPU organizers, Mwesigwa Rukaari Resorts representatives, and FMU officials.

Entries for the event, which opened last week and close on January 14, had registered seven crews by Thursday morning, with more expected to join before the deadline.
Honoring Lumala and His Mother

This year’s event has been dubbed the MPU-Lumala@60 and Mum@90 Birthday Mbarara Rally 2025 in honor of legendary driver Moses Lumala and his mother’s milestone birthdays.

The rally fraternity, alongside FMU and MPU, saw it fitting to celebrate Lumala’s contributions to the sport and his family’s achievements. Lumala, a prominent figure in Ugandan motorsport during the late 1990s and early 2000s, last participated in the rally scene driving a Mitsubishi Evo 10. That car was later sold to Arthur Blick Jr. and is now owned and driven by Abdul Kateete.

Recently, Lumala acquired a Ford Proto, which he is expected to drive in the Mbarara Rally and other events on the 2025 calendar.