Shafic Kiyaga
The 2018 National Rally Championship will go down in history as the closest championship to call in years, technical glitches on the last day aside.
The championship was still undecided after six rounds as three drivers – 2014 champion Ronald Sebuguzi, 2016 champion Jas Mangat and 2011 champion Susan Muwonge – were all separated by 10 points. Win the seventh round at the weekend in Mbale and take home the overall crown.
The tides and stakes were high before the Mbale event but unfortunately, Muwonge was still considered an underdog in the fight given the edge three time champions Sebuguzi and Mangat had over her.
Mangat pulled out of the event while Sebuguzi dropped out on day one. In the end, Muwungo and Edmond Kyeyune claimed a second national rally championship in her 13 year career.
The crew in a Subaru N12 showed maturity and composure to ensure their 32 second deficit on Hassan Alwi – who was given a 10-minute penalty for deviation – on the first day turned into overall victory. They cruised on in style and to the awe of adoring fans to win the rally overall despite a puncture she suffered.
Kepher Walubi finished second while Alwi and Enock Olinga rounded up the podium places in third. Godfrey Lubega who had a good clean drive settled for fourth while Fred Kitaka and Yassin Nasser finished fifth and sixth respectively. Kenyan Khalid Umar rounded off the top 10.
“God has been really on our side this year, we have managed to finish every event thus far. We lost time changing a puncture but managed to get back on the road and win the rally. I am so grateful to my team, my fans we have achieved our goal,” she said.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
