In Uganda’s high-octane motorsport scene, few names carry the weight and admiration of Hajji Abdul Kateete.
Born in Butambala in 1978 and raised in the quiet hills of Lwengo, Kateete has become one of the country’s most inspiring rally figures — not because of wealth or privilege, but because of grit, sacrifice, and unshakable belief.
He remembers the moment it all began. A rally car tore through his childhood village, leaving dust and wonder in its wake. That one sighting sparked a dream that would survive years of struggle.
“I had never seen or heard anything like it,” Kateete recalls. “From that moment, I knew motorsport had a place in my life.”
After moving to Kampala, he hustled through tough jobs — truck driver, meat vendor, whatever it took to make ends meet. But he never let the dream of racing go. Eventually, he got his break as a co-driver at a rally in Lubiri, a moment he still calls foundational.
“That event taught me everything — the nerves, the noise, the adrenaline. I knew this was where I belonged.”
Kateete has since raced across Uganda, piloting machines like the Subaru N10, N14, and GBV. Along the way, he earned fans, respect, and a growing list of accolades. But he’s never raced just for himself. Today, he’s a mentor, guiding new talent, including his own children, Sharifah and Ahmed, into the sport.
“I want to build a legacy. This can’t end with me,” he says.
Kateete often credits those who paved the way — icons like Posiano Lwakataka, Duncan Mubiru, Hajji Umar Mayanja, and Arthur Blick. He sees his own rise as part of a much bigger story.
“These are men who carried the sport when few believed in it. I respect them deeply.”
Now a force in both car and motorbike rallying, Kateete believes motorsport can be more than just thrill and spectacle. For him, it’s a lifeline for Uganda’s youth.
“I’ve seen what sport can do. I am a product of it. If government invested more in motorsport, we’d save many youths from the streets.”
Despite his success, Kateete isn’t slowing down. He sees his next chapter as a mentor, a voice for investment, and a builder of something greater than any individual title.
“I still have so much to give,” he says.
