Gulu City, Uganda: The engines roared to life in Gulu City as the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally, the sixth round of the National Rally Championship (NRC), kicked off on Independence Day, drawing thousands of fans to celebrate the legacy of the late motorsport enthusiast Rajiv Ruparelia.
The two-day event, running from October 9 to 11, spans 260.88 kilometers of challenging terrain and blends fierce rally competition with heartfelt remembrance of Rajiv, who tragically died in a car crash on May 3 at the age of 34.
Organized by the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) in partnership with Central Motor Club (CMC), the rally flagged off at Kaunda Grounds with Gulu City Mayor officiating amid cheers from fans, sponsors, and officials.
A total of 27 crews entered the race, headlined by NRC title contenders Ronald Sebuguzi (241 points) and Ponsiano Lwakataka (235 points), both vying for crucial points in a season nearing its climax.
Day One featured grueling stages, including Noblakes (15.01 km) and Wobbly (27.42 km) before the crowd-favorite Super Special Stage at Pece War Memorial Stadium, which offered side-by-side action for fans.
However, tragedy struck early when fan-favorite Ponsiano Lwakataka rolled his car and was forced to withdraw from the race. After Competitive Stage Two (CS2), Hassan Alwi Jr. led the pack with a time of 21:02.5, followed by Duncan Mubiru (21:04.6) and Sebuguzi (21:15.7).
Day Two (Saturday, October 11) promises heightened intensity, featuring the Rajiv Ruparelia Power Stage (18.05 km) with bonus points at stake.
The event, running alongside Gulu City Oktoberfest, has injected life into northern Uganda, boosting tourism and local business as thousands throng Pece Stadium for the Super Special showdown.
Thrilling Tributes for Rajiv
Beyond the roar of engines, the rally serves as a moving tribute to Rajiv’s passion for motorsport and his philanthropic legacy. Tree planting and borehole projects have been integrated into the event to reflect his enduring commitment to community development.
“Rajiv was a great mind, a brother, and a father figure who gave more than he ever received,” said close friend Gideon Kirumira during the rally launch.
Rajiv’s father, Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, who is gracing the rally in person, hailed his son’s legacy as one that continues to inspire Uganda’s youth and business community. “Rajiv’s legacy will live on through this memorial rally, which promotes motorsports and gives back to the community,” Sudhir said.
The rally includes key competitive sections such as the Super Special Stage Rajiv Ruparelia (1.96 km), run twice, and the KCB Bank Stage, expected to play a decisive role in determining the overall NRC title contenders.
Among the notable participants are the KCB Bank-sponsored duo Nasser Mutebi and Oscar Ntambi, Musa Ssegaabwe, Mathias Kiyegga, Duncan Mubiru, Michael Mukula, Julius Semambo, Jaffer Lukenge, Mansoor Lubega, and Bukenya Roald.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
