Uganda could finally reclaim continental rally bragging rights after 26 years, with Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba leading the African Rally Championship (ARC) standings heading into the decisive final round in Morogoro, Tanzania next week.
Nasser, driving under the Moil Rally Team, sits on 114 points, eight clear of Kenya’s Karan “Samman” Singh Vohra on 106. Another Kenyan, Nikhil Sachania, follows in third with 77 points. The math is simple: if Nasser holds his nerve in Morogoro, he will become the first Ugandan to win the ARC since the late Charles Muhangi’s famous 1999 triumph in the Subaru Impreza “Ekitaguriro.”
“It’s time to raise the Ugandan flag again,” Nasser said, reflecting on the long journey that has taken him from winning the inaugural ARC2 title in 2021 to standing on the brink of the continent’s biggest prize.
Despite his success, Nasser voiced frustration at the lack of backing from both government and motorsport authorities, saying Ugandan drivers continue to struggle for support even when competing at the highest level. He called on corporate sponsors and the state to rally behind motorsport.
“It has been a process of growth on the continent, but driving here is not easy,” he noted. “We need more support if we are to continue representing the country on such platforms.”
More than 100 Ugandan fans are expected to make the road trip to Morogoro, where 22 rally crews will line up for the season finale. Nasser has urged his supporters to drive safely as they travel to cheer him on.
The potential title would mark a historic moment for Ugandan sport. Since Muhangi’s championship, the country has endured near misses and long stretches of frustration. Now, with Nasser in pole position, the long wait could finally be over.
If he pulls it off, Uganda will have its first ARC crown in more than two decades, and Nasser will etch his name alongside Muhangi as a national motorsport icon.
