The 2026 Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally has officially roared into action in Mbarara City, setting the stage for three days of high-octane motorsport competition up to May,9.
The event marks the second round of both the African Rally Championship (ARC) and the KCB National Rally Championship (NRC).
As the title sponsor of the KCB National Rally Championship, KCB Bank continues to support drivers from Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, providing a platform to showcase talent, sharpen competitive skills, and advance regional motorsport development at continental level.
Leading the KCB Bank-sponsored line-up is championship leader Karan Patel, navigated by Tauseef Khan in the Škoda Fabia R5.
The team is joined by Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya alongside co-driver Olivier Ngabo, Nikhil Sachania with Deep Patel, Nasser Mutebi with Steven Bunya, Mike Mukula Junior with Edward Kiyingi, and Oscar Ntambi with Asuman Muhammed, who recently secured victory in the ARC2 category during their WRC debut.
Patel enters the rally at the top of the championship standings with 49 points, ahead of Aakif Virani (38), Samman Singh Vohra (37), and Jasmeet Chana (32). The KCB-backed contingent also includes ARC2 competitors Evans Kavisi/Absalom Aswani and Joseph Gacheche/Sofia Rantasalo.
Speaking during the official flag-off, Noela Byuma, Head of Marketing and Communications at KCB Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to motorsport development across the region.
“At KCB Bank, we believe the true heartbeat of sports lies in the power of partnership. As title sponsor of the National Rally Championship, our goal is to fuel the ambitions of local talent and help drivers transition from local favourites to international competitors,” she said.
Byuma also highlighted the bank’s efforts to enhance fan participation through KCB Pay.
Karan Patel expressed confidence ahead of the competition.
“Psychologically, I am fully prepared, and the car is in optimal condition. We have fine-tuned the setup specifically for these regional stages,” he noted.
The Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) commended KCB Bank for its continued investment in the sport.
“The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally continues to play a critical role in growing motorsport across the region by attracting top talent and raising the level of competition. KCB Bank’s continued support is creating valuable opportunities for local drivers to compete and develop at continental level,” an FMU representative stated.
Oscar Ntambi also reflected on his return to local competition following international success.
“Returning to the local stages after our success in the WRC/ARC2 category is a proud moment for us. We have spent the last few weeks preparing the car for the technical demands of the Mbarara terrain. We are grateful for KCB Bank’s continued support, which enables us to compete at this level,” he said.
KCB Bank further reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability through its Green Rally initiative. In partnership with FMU, the bank continues to support conservation efforts aimed at ensuring rally routes and surrounding communities remain clean and well preserved throughout the event.
