Duncan Mubiru won the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally in Gulu for the second consecutive year on Saturday October 10 driving a Ford Fiesta Proto with co-driver Hamza Lwanga.
The 2020/21 National Rally Championship champion returned from a finger injury layoff to beat veteran Moses Lumala in a tight duel that saw stage victories exchanged throughout Saturday.
Mubiru trailed championship leader Hassan Alwi by seven seconds after day one before reclaiming the lead on the opening Yaobai Cement stage.
Lumala responded by winning the No Blake's stage in his Ford Proto setting up a cat-and-mouse battle that remained tight through Competitive Stage 10.
Haruna Katazza and co-driver David Mwesigwa stole the headlines with a spectacular performance in their locally built Subaru Impreza N8 nicknamed Magege.
Katazza set the fastest time on the Yaobai Cement 3 Power Stage clocking six minutes 00.3 seconds to secure third place overall.
He also broke the record for the highest jump at the Ssegamu 14 Jump on the demanding 18.05km Wobbly Stage.
"For every rally I drive I come with a mission. Today I have broken the record for being the highest jumper at the Ssegamu 14 Jump in the 18.05km Wobbly Stage then I went ahead and beat the big boys in the Power Stage" bragged Katazza.
Mubiru said he missed his fans and chose Gulu to entertain them marking a successful return to competition.
Rally podium
- 1st: Duncan Mubiru / Hamza Lwanga (Ford Fiesta Proto)
- 2nd: Moses Lumala (Ford Proto)
- 3rd: Haruna Katazza / David Mwesigwa (Subaru Impreza N8 Magege)
Source: Uganda Observer
