Uganda’s Motocross Cranes secured a podium finish at the 2025 FIM-Africa Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN), claiming bronze in Harare, Zimbabwe. The team amassed 284 points, finishing behind champions South Africa on 717 and hosts Zimbabwe on 468.
The Ugandan side improved on last year’s runner-up position in Morocco with another strong showing, highlighted by standout performances in the junior ranks.
Young riders Hellena Birungi Ainomugisha and Jamairah Makumbi took gold in the MX50 and MX65 ladies’ categories respectively, while Uganda also swept the podium in both classes.
In MX50, Abigail Katende and Abigail Muwanguzi followed Birungi, while in MX65, Faith Angel Deedan and Joy Norah Akao joined Makumbi on the podium.
Birungi, already the reigning African Women Champion, underlined her class by also racing against boys in the mixed MX50, where she placed 12th overall. Other solid contributions came from Jaysen Katek, Isreal Mpuga, Alber Muwanguzi, and Janan Makumbi, who all boosted Uganda’s tally across different heats.
Despite the dominance of South Africa across multiple classes, Uganda showed resilience on the sandy Harare track, which posed a new challenge compared to the harder surfaces they usually train on.
Team captain Gift Tabula Ssebuguzi consistently finished fifth in MX125, while riders like Ethan Paul Musedde, Jude Musedde, Miguel and Jonathan Katende, Ethan Katek, Waleed Omar, and Wazir Ali Omar added crucial points in their respective categories.
“This podium is a great achievement,” said team manager Arthur Blick Jr., who also serves as FMU Deputy Vice President of Motorcycling. “Competing on sand was new for us, but the riders adapted and showed the fighting spirit Uganda is known for.”
The 2025 MXoAN featured more than 200 riders from eight nations, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, Uganda, and Kenya. Uganda’s strong showing in the juniors particularly signaled a bright future for the sport, with the Cranes continuing to develop riders capable of challenging at the continental level.
