The engines came alive in Gulu City as the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally began on Independence Day. The event, which is the sixth round of the National Rally Championship, attracted thousands of fans who gathered to celebrate the life and passion of the late motorsport lover Rajiv Ruparelia.
The two-day rally, running from October 9 to 11, covers 260.88 kilometers of rough terrain. It combines competition and tribute to Rajiv, who died in a car accident on May 3 at the age of 34.
Organized by the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) together with the Central Motor Club (CMC), the rally started at Kaunda Grounds. The Gulu City Mayor flagged off the event as crowds of fans, sponsors, and officials cheered.
A total of 27 crews joined the race. Among them were top title contenders Ronald Sebuguzi with 241 points and Ponsiano Lwakataka with 235 points, both aiming to strengthen their positions as the season nears its end.
Day One featured tough sections such as Noblakes (15.01 km) and Wobbly (27.42 km), followed by the popular Super Special Stage at Pece War Memorial Stadium, where fans enjoyed exciting side-by-side racing.
However, the excitement turned to worry when crowd favorite Ponsiano Lwakataka rolled his car and was forced out of the competition. After Competitive Stage Two, Hassan Alwi Jr. led with a time of 21:02.5, followed by Duncan Mubiru at 21:04.6 and Sebuguzi at 21:15.7.
Day Two, which runs on Saturday, October 11, is expected to be even more competitive. It includes the Rajiv Ruparelia Power Stage (18.05 km), which offers extra points for drivers.
The rally has brought energy and business to northern Uganda, running alongside the Gulu City Oktoberfest. Hotels, restaurants, and local traders are enjoying the economic boost as fans crowd Pece Stadium for the main events.
Tributes to Rajiv
Beyond the noise of the rally cars, the event is a heartfelt tribute to Rajiv Ruparelia’s passion for motorsport and his love for helping others. Tree planting and borehole projects have been added to the rally activities to honor his community work.
“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 launch.
Rajiv’s father, Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, who attended the rally with his wife Jotysna, praised his son’s memory and the inspiration he left behind. “Rajiv’s legacy will live on through this memorial rally, which promotes motorsports and gives back to the community,” Sudhir said.
The rally features key competitive stages such as the Super Special Stage Rajiv Ruparelia (1.96 km), which drivers race twice, and the KCB Bank Stage, which could decide the National Rally Championship standings.
Among the well-known participants are the KCB Bank-sponsored duo Nasser Mutebi and Oscar Ntambi, along with Musa Ssegaabwe, Mathias Kiyegga, Duncan Mubiru, Michael Mukula, Julius Semambo, Jaffer Lukenge, Mansoor Lubega, and Bukenya Roald.
Gulu City has once again become the heartbeat of Uganda’s motorsport scene, as drivers and fans come together to celebrate both competition and the memory of a man who helped the sport grow.
