Muwanguzi ekes out slender UMC Fort Portal Rally lead

UMOSPOC driver Joshua Muwanguzi shocked the rally fraternity after emerging as the winner of Day 1 of the UMC Fort Portal Rally in the Tourism City. 

Muwanguzi popularly known as the Lion of Omoro, Muwanguzi took an early lead on Saturday, November 25, after navigating through the rally’s muddy terrain. 

He exhibited resilience and fought hard to post a total time loss of 42.1 minutes in the five opening stages of the rally. 

Muwanguzi’s display came as pre-event favourites Ronald Sebuguzi and John Consta faced mechanical setbacks and ultimately dropped out. 

After day one, second-placed 2022 national rally champion Byron Rugomoka, navigated by Hakim Mawanda, trailed Muwanguzi by nine seconds. 

Ronald Sebuguzi in action. Photo by Johnson Were

Last year's UMC winner, Umar Dauda, was third, trailing by 22 seconds, and promised to fight back on day two to defend his title. 

Guest driver Abas Sebunya in a Mitsubishi Evo X came fourth in a rally that challenged drivers’ skills on wet terrain.  

The cancellation of stage 1 added a twist to the competition, triggered by a 2WD car getting stuck in a narrow, muddy section, blocking all cars behind and the question was whether the clerk of course Joshua Mayanja would reverse the starting order.  

Day 2 sees the drivers repeat the same challenging stages totalling 136.85 km. 

Top ten  

Joshua Muwanguzi/Asuman Consta (42:01.91) 

Byron Rugomoka/Hakim Mawanda (42:11.38) 

Umar Dauda/Steven Bunya – (42:24.48) 

Abas Sebunya/Maris Nieksan – (42:36.04) 

Fred Busulwa/Joseph Bongole – (42:38:38) 

John Burrows/Duncan Katumba – (45:21.65) 

Kataza Haruna/Mariam Nambasa – (47:24.77) 

Peter Kalule/David Mwesigwa – (47:35.66) 

Ali Omar/Wazir Omar – (47:42.77) 

Ibrahim Lubega/Mustapha Kanakulya – (48:49:97)