The much-hyped Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2025 was finally flagged off this evening at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara and let’s just say, if excitement were fuel, Mbarara would be in danger of combustion. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, did the honors, looking like he was ready to co-drive himself until someone reminded him the flag doesn’t come with a seatbelt. The ceremony was so lively, even the cows grazing nearby paused to watch (and probably wondered why humans like to go fast in circles). Motorsport enthusiasts turned up in numbers, revving louder than the cars themselves, while government officials gave speeches full of “vrooms” and “zoom zooms” clearly channeling their inner Fast & Furious. Local fans brought the vibes and the volume. It was less a flag-off, more a national holiday in disguise.
KCB bank represented drivers pose for a photo (Photo credit Innocent Mutaawe)
Earlier in the day, before things got official and people started waving flags like they were hailing taxis, the rally’s ARC contenders hit the 6.11km qualifying stage basically a high-speed game of “who wants to start first?” Kenya’s Karan Patel, with his right-hand man Tauseef Khan in a Skoda Fabia R5, came flying through like he was late for a wedding, clocking an eye-watering 4:13.5. That’s not driving that’s teleportation with wheels. Hot on his heels was fellow Kenyan Samman Vohra and co-driver Drew Sturrock, also strapped into a Skoda Fabia R5 because apparently, Kenya got a Fabia discount deal.
qualifying stage winner Karan Patel in one of the slipery lukaali stage (Photo by Innocent Mutaawe)
Flying the Ugandan flag so high it probably needed air traffic clearance, Michael Mukula Jr. and his co-driver Siraj Kyambadde wrangled their Subaru Impreza N14 into a solid third-place finish and let’s be honest, that Subie probably roared louder than the crowd at a village football final. Fourth place went to Kenya’s most inspirational duo, Nikhil Sachania Africa’s only paraplegic rally driver and living proof that excuses are officially out of fashion alongside co-driver Deep Patel in a Ford Fiesta that might be small but clearly has a lion’s heart. Wrapping up the session were Uganda’s very own Aine Sodo and Asuman Mohammed in a Mitsubishi Evo X, cruising in like, “We’re not last we’re just building suspense.”
Aine Sodo in action
The real showdown begins tomorrow and no, it’s not a telenovela finale, it’s rally day two! Crews will warm up their tires by tackling the same 6.11km stage again in the morning, just in case they missed a pothole or two the first time. From there, it’s straight into the beast: the grueling 23.28km Kaguta 1 stage where even the trees are rumored to whisper, “Good luck!” followed by the 19.02km Ankole 1 Cow stage, which sounds peaceful but drives like a stampede in high gear. And just when you think drivers might get a lunch break, boom the afternoon serves up the adrenaline-packed Rukaari Superspecial Stage, not once but twice, in a stadium-style setup designed to let fans scream, point, and pretend they’re rally experts. It’s head-to-head action, and chances are, even the dust will be doing backflips.
Yasin Mukasa in the muddy party (Photo By Innocent Mutawe)
Leading the charge off the start line like rallying’s version of Moses parting the Red Sea will be Aine Sodo and Asuman Mohammed, opening the road as car number 1 because someone’s got to clear the goats, dust, and possibly lost boda riders. Right behind them, revving with the hunger of a student on chapati day, is the young and lightning-fast Ugandan duo Michael Mukula Jr. and Siraj Kyambadde in car number 2, ready to prove that age is just a number… unless it’s the one on the speedometer. Next up, Nikhil Sachania the legend himself will roll out with the confidence of a man who’s seen it all and still says, “Let’s go faster.” Then it’s Samman Vohra, probably calculating lap times faster than his GPS can catch up, and finally Kenya’s Karan Patel in car number 5, who might as well be driving a fighter jet disguised as a Skoda. Uganda’s reigning rally king, Yasin Nasser the 2023 National Champion will round out the ARC elite in car number 6, calmly preparing to show everyone why he’s the guy with the crown. After that, it’s the NRC contenders’ turn to let loose expect drama, dust, and some serious pedal-to-the-metal patriotism.As the engines roar to life tomorrow, Uganda braces for a weekend of high-speed thrills, dramatic turns, and fierce battles both for ARC supremacy and national glory.
