Ronald Ssebuguzi has vowed to win this weekend’s Lato Milk Mbarara rally as he bids to make a strong start to the season.
Ssebuguzi, who won last year’s edition of the season-opening event, says he is prepared for the highly-anticipated competition in the rally.
“We want to start the season on a winning note,” said Ssebuguzi, who will be navigated by Leon Ssenyange in a Mitsubishi Evo X.
Being the first event on the 2017 national championship (NRC) calendar, the rally has attracted the big boys including Jas Mangat, Dr Ahmed Ashraf, Ranjit Kuku, Hassan Alwi, Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru and Godfrey Lubega.
In a bid to test drivers’ skills to the maximum, rally organisers have added a rocky competitive section on the route. And Ssebuguzi is bracing for such a challenging section. “Anybody can drive on a flat surface but it comes down to how one can handle the bumpy areas where time is lost and gained there,” Ssebuguzi noted.
Apart from last year, the winner of Mbarara rally has always gone on to win the NRC title in the past six seasons. The rally, which is the first of the seven series NRC-calendar events, will flag off Saturday with a super special sprint stage at Kakyeka stadium.
Ponsiano Lwakataka, the record four-time event winner, will be dearly missed after skipping the rally due to personal problems. Lwakataka, who spent much of last season on remand in prison over alleged murder, was last weekend arrested for fresh criminal charges of fish smuggling.
Also out of the event is local favourite, Charles Muhangi. The former African champion had been rumoured to make a special appearance in the rally but sources told The Observer yesterday he opted out due to tight business commitments.
PAST WINNERS
2006: R. Ssebuguzi
2007: P. Lwakataka
2008: Dr Ashraf
2009: R. Ssebuguzi
2010: P. Lwakataka
2011: S. Muwonge
2012: J. Mangat
2013: P. Lwakataka
2014: D. Mubiru
2015: D. Mubiru
2016: R. Ssebuguzi