Experience, power and youth collide for the NRC crown

The battle for the 2025 Ugandan National Rally Championship (NRC) has exploded into a dramatic three-way fight, promising a nail biting conclusion that contrasts sharply with the foregone conclusions of recent seasons. Unlike previous years where champions were crowned with events to spare, this year’s title is almost certain to be decided in the final stage, making it the most fiercely contested championship in recent memory.

A mere six points separate the top two, with the rookie Ssegaabwe lying in wait, ready to capitalize on any misstep from the leading pair.

The experienced Ronald Sebuguzi, a three time champion, currently holds the advantage. His consistency in the powerful Ford Fiesta Proto has been the cornerstone of his campaign. Sebuguzi has mastered the art of accumulating points, maintaining his position at the summit after learning from the recent ARC championship that saw Yasin Nasser claim a historic first title without wining a single event on the Calendar . His challenge now is to withstand the immense pressure from his closest rivals in the final two rounds.

Lurking just six points behind is the formidable Ponsiano Lwakataka. The two-time champion has been the season’s most dominant driver in terms of raw speed, having clinched victory in four of the five events so far. With former title contender Duncan Mubiru seemingly out of the picture, Lwakataka has identified Sebuguzi as his primary target. He has made his ambition clear,
“My target is to beat Ronald Sebuguzi in the coming event. Once that is done, the last event will only necessitate me to finish on the podium.”Ponsiano stated

Injecting a fresh dynamic into the title fight is rookie sensation Musa Ssegaabwe. Representing a new, fearless generation of drivers, Ssegaabwe has defied expectations to plant himself firmly in third place with 207.5 points. Piloting a Mitsubishi Evo 9, his ambition is nothing short of breaking the long-standing dominance of the two legends ahead of him. His impressive performances have already paved the way for a competitive future, with plans to unveil a more modern Scorda Fabia N5 next season.
“I’m here to enjoy the moment. Reaching third in my debut season is more than I hoped for, it’s incredibly fulfilling,” Ssegaabwe said.
The upcoming Gulu event will carry a somber and respectful tone as the rally community comes together to honor the late Rajiv Ruparelia. A former rally driver, patron of the Central Motor Club (CMC) who tragically lost his life in a car crash in May of this year. The event will serve as a tribute to his memory and his contributions to Ugandan motorsport.

With everything on the line, the final two rounds of the 2025 NRC season are poised to deliver edge of the seat action .
After five of the seven scheduled events, the standings reveal an incredibly tight race at the top;