Mbarara Motor Club (MMC) will take a major step in its bid to reclaim its place among Uganda’s leading motorsport organizers when it hosts the Ntungamo Autocross at Africa Coffee Park on August 8.
More than just another motorsport event, the Autocross will serve as a key assessment of MMC’s readiness to regain the right to organize National Rally Championship (NRC) events after losing that privilege in 2023 for failing to comply with Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) regulations.
Once synonymous with the NRC season opener in the Ankole region, MMC is now rebuilding under interim president Seth Murari and hopes the event will demonstrate its renewed organizational capacity.
Club secretary Davis Karashani, the former national cricket captain, said Ntungamo was chosen because of a partnership with a potential sponsor and the desire to expand the sport’s reach.
“We chose Ntungamo because of our partnership with a potential sponsor. It also fits our objective of taking the sport closer to the people and to our neighbours in Rwanda, so we can attract regional participation,” Karashani said.
The event will also honour former MMC driver Wilberforce Pole Pole, who died during the Covid-19 pandemic, in recognition of his contribution to motorsport in western Uganda. MMC has completed the route design and submitted all the required documentation to the FMU, which has already inspected and approved the course.
“We are using this event to build the capacity of our members with one goal: to regain our organizing rights from the Federation,” Karashani added.
FMU general secretary Reynolds Kadox Kibira confirmed the federation is willing to give the club another opportunity.
“Mbarara Motor Club has an opportunity to redeem itself. If they organize this event well and pass our assessment, they will be eligible to be readmitted as main rally organizers,” Kibira said.
The opening round of the 2026 NRC was organized by Motorsport Promo Uganda (MPU) in Mbale after MMC lost its rights. The event will be graced by the minister of state for Education and Sports, Peter Ogwang, , while Inspire Cold Brew will headline the event under the theme “Horsepower Meets Coffee Power.”
For MMC, however, the ultimate victory will be convincing the FMU that one of Uganda’s rally clubs is ready to return to the NRC calendar.
