The 2025 Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, a key fixture in the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC), is set to take place from July 9 to 12 in Mbarara.
The event, which has become one of Africa’s premier motorsport contests, will draw over 30 crews from countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, and hosts Uganda.
This year’s edition marks a strategic shift in venue from Jinja to Mbarara, with the western region’s challenging landscape expected to provide a new layer of complexity for drivers.
With fast gravel roads, sharp corners, and the threat of rain creating muddy conditions, the terrain will test both skill and endurance.
Top Ugandan drivers including Ronald Ssebuguzi, Duncan Mubiru, Yassin Nasser, Mustapha Mukasa, Musa Ssegaabwe, and Posiano Lwakataka are already fine-tuning their machines in preparation.
Many have described the rally as a defining event in their careers, underlining the high stakes and intense competition expected.
Last year’s champion, Kenya’s Karan Patel, who secured a dramatic victory in Jinja after fending off Uganda’s Ssebuguzi and Zambia’s Leroy Gomes, is expected to return to defend his title.
Patel’s win in 2024 solidified his ARC lead and added to his growing reputation on the continental stage.
The rally headquarters will be based at Lake View Resort Hotel in Mbarara, with stages stretching through Isingiro, Kashaari, and the Rwizi region.
The new route offers not only a racing spectacle but also a scenic view of Uganda’s diverse landscape, enhancing the event’s tourism appeal.
First held in 1997, the Pearl Rally has grown in prestige, with past champions including renowned drivers like Patrick Njiru, James Whyte, and Uganda’s Susan Muwonge—who made history in 2011 as the first woman to win the event.
