Uganda’s rally heavyweights will descend on Gulu next weekend after 32 crews registered for the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally scheduled for October 9-10.
Championship leader Hassan Alwi, Ronald Ssebuguzi, Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru and Moses Lumala headline the sizeable field confirmed after entries closed on Saturday.
However, former national champion Ponsiano Lwakataka is the notable absentee from the final list despite a successful fundraising campaign that had raised expectations of his participation.
Alwi and navigator Musa Nsubuga will arrive in Gulu firmly in control of the 2026 National Rally Championship with 236 points, holding a 95-point advantage over second-placed Jonas Kansiime on 141.
The battle immediately behind Alwi is considerably tighter.
Lumala sits third on 140 points, just 1 behind Kansiime, while Mubiru occupies fourth with 129. Umar Dauda completes the top 5 on 107.5 points.
Only 12 points separate Kansiime, Lumala and Mubiru, giving the Gulu round added significance as the championship enters its closing stages.
Alwi and Nsubuga will lead a formidable Ford Fiesta Proto contingent as they seek to further strengthen their grip on the championship.
Ssebuguzi will be partnered by Anthony Mugambwa in another Ford Fiesta Proto, while Mubiru continues alongside Hamza Lwanga in similar machinery.
Veteran Lumala and Cedric Buzabo complete a quartet of Fiesta Protos capable of challenging at the front.
Musa Ssegaabwe and Mathias Kiyegga add further quality to the field in their Skoda Fabia.
Kansiime, who has plenty at stake in the championship battle, will have Ronald Bukenya calling the notes in their Mitsubishi Evo 8.
Dauda and Steven Bunya are entered in a Mitsubishi Evo X, meaning all 5 leading drivers in the championship standings will be represented in Gulu.
Aine Godfrey Kaguta and Uthuman Muhammad will also compete in an Evo X, alongside Stefano Valeri and Robert Katabalwa in similar machinery.
Nasser Mutebi and Collins Mulwanyi, as well as Farouk Ssentongo and Eva Louis Weikampa, will tackle the event in Mitsubishi Evo 9s.
Ahmed Katete and Morgan Sseruga have entered a Subaru Impreza N10 WRX STI, while Francis Omoo and Ivan Sserunkuma will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV.
Peter Kaule and Mildred Kibuuka add another interesting combination to the field in a Subaru Impreza Proto.
The expanded entry means Gulu will feature everything from modern Proto machinery and Mitsubishi Evos to several generations of Subaru Imprezas and Toyota rally cars.
Doreen Asiimwe and Shainah Kobusingye will form an all-female crew in a Toyota FX.
Beyond the championship battle, the rally will commemorate Rajiv Ruparelia, the businessman and motorsport enthusiast who died in a road crash in May 2025.
Gulu hosted the inaugural memorial event last year, attracting 27 crews. The increase to 32 this year represents 5 additional entries and sets up another sizeable field for the northern Uganda stages.
Full entry list
Ssessanga Nasib / Mustapha Kanakulya (Toyota Celica Pickup), Ahmed Senyonjo / Phinehas Mungufeni (Toyota Corolla), Mubiru Sande / Hassan Kateregga (Toyota FX), Tumwebaze Odeon / Hussein Mukuye (Toyota Altezza), Watendwa Samuel / Isabirye Edgar (Toyota FX), Mansuur Lubega / Kenneth Kavuma (Toyota Corolla), Sharif Muyanja / Edward Kiyinji (Toyota RunX), Godfrey Nsereko / JB Musisi (Toyota Etios), Farouk Ssentongo / Eva Louis Weikampa (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Walter Kibande / Duncan Katumba (Subaru Impreza GC8), Dennis Bahizi / Shaun Bahizi (Subaru Impreza GC8), Julius Semambo / Diana Nagawa (Toyota Sprinter), Isaac Ssozi / Jafari Lukenge (Subaru Impreza N12), Nasser Mutebi / Collins Mulwanyi (Mitsubishi Evo 9), Doreen Asiimwe / Shainah Kobusingye (Toyota FX), Haruna Katazza / David Mwesigwa (Subaru Impreza N12), Geoffrey Muyengera / Saul Mukose (Subaru Impreza N8), Edward Kirumira / Geofrey Serwoga (Toyota Corolla), Ismail Lule Afende / Prosperous Namara (VW Golf), Jonas Kansiime Matayo / Ronald Bukenya (Mitsubishi Evo 8), Samuel Bwete “Kawunyemu” / Urban Mulindwa (Subaru Impreza N14), Aine Godfrey Kaguta / Uthuman Muhammad (Mitsubishi Evo X), Stefano Valeri / Robert Katabalwa (Mitsubishi Evo X), Moses Lumala / Cedric Buzabo (Ford Fiesta Proto), Ronald Ssebuguzi / Anthony Mugambwa (Ford Fiesta Proto), Musa Ssegaabwe / Mathias Kiyegga