By Mwambazi Lawrence-

The engines are warming up, the rally cars are being prepared and the dust is getting ready for another serious beating as the KCB UMC Rwenzori Region Rally 2026, the fifth round of the season, heads to Kyenjojo and Kamwenge from September 3–5, 2026.

Organised by the Uganda Motor Club), the event will mark the ninth edition of the Rwenzori Region Rally, bringing together Uganda’s top rally crews for three days of speed, skill, strategy and, as always, plenty of drama. With championship points becoming increasingly valuable, competitors will have little room for mistakes as they battle across the challenging roads of western Uganda.

The action will officially get underway on Thursday, September 3, in Kyenjojo, with scrutineering followed by the ceremonial flag-off. This will give fans the first opportunity to get close to the machines and crews before the competition officially roars into life on Friday.

Leg One on Friday, September 4, will remain in Kyenjojo and feature two long stages. The opening challenge will be the 18.12-kilometre Dr Maseruka stage, which will be tackled twice. Crews will then face the 15.12-kilometre Roma Motors stage, which will be run once.

But Friday will not end quietly. Later in the afternoon, spectators will be treated to the Walt’s Auto Super Special Stage, where two cars will go head-to-head on a double-circuit format. This is expected to provide plenty of close racing and entertainment, with fans getting the opportunity to watch rally cars battle almost side by side. It is the kind of stage where drivers will need more than horsepower because one small mistake can turn a victory dance into a very expensive parking exercise.

The competition will then shift to Kamwenge for Leg Two, where crews will face two stages, each repeated twice. The first will be the 12.38-kilometre Omunyeto stage, which will not only be repeated but will also serve as the Power Stage later in the evening. With bonus championship points up for grabs, drivers will have an added reason to empty the fuel tank and leave absolutely nothing on the road.

The second challenge in Kamwenge will be the 16.31-kilometre Trademate stage, also repeated twice. By this point, the cars will have already endured two days of punishment, meaning reliability, tyre management and crew strategy could prove just as important as outright speed.

While the stages promise plenty of action, the championship standings have already added another layer of intrigue to the fifth round. Hassan Alwi heads into the Rwenzori Region Rally sitting comfortably at the top of the overall leaderboard with 236 points. Behind him, however, the fight for the remaining podium positions is much tighter, with Jonas Kansime on 141 points and Moses Lumala on 140 points. Just one point separates Kansime and Lumala, meaning every stage and every championship point could prove decisive.

The 2WD class is also turning out to be an interesting battle. Mansoor Lubega leads the category with 86 points, followed by Julious Semambo on 76 points, while Godfrey Nsereko occupies third position with 53 points. With the gap between the leading two crews standing at only ten points, the Rwenzori roads could provide the perfect arena for a change in the order.

Meanwhile, the CRC class remains wide open. Mubiru Sande currently leads with 47 points, but Geofrey Munyegera, on 38 points, and Assimwe Doreen, on 37 points, remain firmly within striking distance. With only a handful of points separating the leading contenders, the class could easily produce one of the most exciting battles of the weekend.

As Kyenjojo and Kamwenge prepare to welcome the rally fraternity, all eyes will be on the leading championship contenders to see whether Hassan Alwi can extend his commanding advantage or whether the chasing pack can close the gap. With the Power Stage, Super Special and demanding long stages all waiting, the KCB UMC Rwenzori Region Rally 2026 promises to deliver another memorable chapter in the Championship.