Uganda: Ssebuguzi Triumphs in Masaka

James Ssekandi

28 March 2011

Ronald Ssebuguzi drove what could arguably be the best race of his life to cruise to victory during the two-day Umospoc Challenge Rally in Masaka yesterday.

Carrying a five-minute penalty following an aborted run in the Super Special Stage on Saturday, Ssebuguzi (Mitsubishi Evo. 9) completed the event in two hours, six minutes and 27 seconds to take the checkered flag first in his season bow.

Ssebuguzi’s stunning victory threw the National Rally Championship (NRC) wide open.

Reigning national champion Nasser Mutebi came second, five minutes adrift, whereas current NRC leader Susan Muwonge was third in the 195.4km race. She moved to 175 points, 75 more ahead of Ssebuguzi (100) while Mutebi’s first finish of the season got him into third on 75 after two rounds. In what proved to be an unpredictable and exciting finale, two-time national champion Ponsiano Lwakataka dropped out due to engine failure with two sections left while leading.

That brought his winning streak at home, stretching five years, to an abrupt end.

“I was very determined to start afresh,” Ssebuguzi, flanked by his co-driver Justin Mungoma, said.

“It was so sweet that he rubbed some salt into Lwakataka’s wounds. Beating him anywhere feels good.”

Overnight leader Shafiq Male (Celica) managed to finish 13th.

His fairytale didn’t last long enough to challenge the big guns he upstaged on the opening day with only 12 cars of the 32 finishing the event which brought Masaka to a halt.

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