BY MWAMBAZI LAWRENCE-

Ugandan rally driver Oscar Ntambi and co-driver Uthumaan Mohammed delivered an impressive performance to win the FIA African Rally Championship Category 2 (ARC2) at the iconic Safari Rally Kenya, one of the toughest events on the global rally calendar.

The KCB Bank sponsored crew approached the demanding event with a clear strategy from the outset  to prioritize survival and secure a finish at the world’s toughest gravel rally. Right from day one, Ntambi and Mohammed showed their intentions, opting for a measured and disciplined drive while others pushed harder and paid the price on the brutal Kenyan stages.

Their rally was far from trouble-free. On the second day, the crew suffered a broken driveshaft and later endured a bent rear suspension during the Kedong 1 stage, which cost them significant time. Despite the setback, the duo carefully nursed their Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X through the stage and managed to reach service, where the team repaired the damage and sent them back on their mission.

From that point onward, Ntambi enjoyed a relatively clean run to the finish. The Ugandan driver completed the rally 22nd overall with a total time of 5:11:08.0, approximately one hour and 55 minutes behind the overall winner. His Evo X, a car renowned for its durability in punishing rally conditions, proved perfectly suited to the unforgiving Safari terrain.

The result earns Ntambi valuable points in the African Rally Championship as the series heads to its second round scheduled for 8th–10th May 2026 in the western region of Uganda.

Another Ugandan crew, Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba, also showed resilience during the rally. Driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2, the pair fought their way back to finish 28th overall after an early setback on day one forced them to retire and restart under super rally regulations on day two.

It was, however, a rally of mixed fortunes for the Ugandan contingent. The Betika sponsored crew of Duncan Mubiru Kikankane, alongside co-driver Joseph Kamya, endured a challenging outing. Their troubles began on the opening day when their car became stuck in deep mud, forcing them to restart the rally the following day. Further drama struck when they broke a rear suspension but managed to limp back to service for repairs. Unfortunately, their rally came to an end on the final day after a shattered windscreen forced them to retire.

Meanwhile, in the ARC1 category, the Kenyan crew of Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan dominated the class to claim victory in their Škoda Fabia R5. Despite battling persistent overheating issues throughout the event, the duo maintained control to secure maximum points  a strong start to their 2026 championship campaign following a disappointing season last year.

With the opening round complete, attention now shifts to the next stop of the African Rally Championship, which will bring the continent’s top rally drivers to Uganda in May for what promises to be another thrilling chapter in the 2026 season.