Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally or Pearl of Africa Rally Uganda (PoARU) is one of the main motorsport events in Uganda. It is part of the National Rally Championship and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC).[1]

Origins

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The first edition of the Pearl of Africa Rally was held in 1997 as an African Rally Championship candidate event. This followed the successful organisation of Burundi's Great Lakes Rally in Uganda in 1996. The Great Lakes Rally was moved to Uganda due to political instability in Burundi. Inspired by the success of the Great Lakes Rally, Uganda decided to apply for its own African Rally Championship event in 1997.[1]

As Winston Churchill visited Uganda, he baptised the country as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, that's where this event receives its name from.[1]

Some remarkable drivers in the history of Uganda are Sospeter Munyegera, Shekhar Mehta, Satwant Singh, Charlie Lubega, Moses Lumala, Emmanuel Katto and Chipper Adams, among others.[1]

Past winners of Pearl of Africa Rally

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Source: Motor Sport Uganda [2] and African Rally Championship[1]

Year Driver Co-driver Car Notes
1996   Karim Hirji   Frank Nekusa Toyota Celica ST 185 Run under FIA rules as the Great Lakes Rally, jointly with Club Automobile du Burundi
1997   Chipper Adams   Justin Beyendeza Toyota Supra Run as the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally - ARC Candidate event
1998   Charles Muhangi   Steven Byaruhanga Subaru Impreza
1999   Chipper Adams   Justin Beyendeza Toyota Supra
2000   Charlie Lubega   Abed Musa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
2002   Johnny Gemmel   Robert Paisley Subaru Impreza WRX
2003   Charlie Lubega   Abed Musa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
2004   Charlie Lubega   Abed Musa Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4
2005   Riyaz Kurji   Sayed Kadri Subaru Impreza N10
2006   Riyaz Kurji   Sayed Kadri Subaru Impreza N8 Crew run under Kenyan Licence
2007   Conrad Rautenbach   Peter Marsh Subaru Impreza N10
2008   Jamie Whyte   Phil Archenoul Subaru Impreza N10
2009   Riyaz Kurji   Sayed Kadri Subaru Impreza N8 Prize granted posthumously [3]
2010   Jamie Whyte   Phil Archenoul Subaru Impreza N10
2011   Ponsiano Lwakataka   Musa Nsubuga Subaru Impreza N8
2012   Mohammed Essa   Greg Stead Subaru Impreza N12
2013   Jas Mangat   Gihan de Silva Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2014   Rajbir Rai   Tim Challen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2015   Jaspreet Singh Chatthe   Craig Thorley Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
2016   Hassan Alwi   Enock Olinga Subaru Impreza STi N14
2017   Manvir Singh Baryan   Drew Sturrock Škoda Fabia R5
2018   Manvir Singh Baryan   Drew Sturrock Škoda Fabia R5
2019   Manvir Singh Baryan   Drew Sturrock Škoda Fabia R5
2020 Cancelled due to COVID
2021 Cancelled due to COVID
2022   Jas Mangat   Joseph Kamya Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X

References

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