The contest for the 2017 National Rally Championship title intensified after the veteran driver who struck his full ED drove to the podium in the Pearl of Africa Rally. The podium finish left the driver who was used to race under the Rwandan flag 75 points clear of defending Champion Ronald Ssebuguzi. Ssebuguzi was expected to revive his title charge soon after he registered for the Kabalega Rally. But just like the Mountains of the Moon Rally, the Kabalega Rally did not hold good tidings for Ssebuguzi, he for instance failed to finish the event last year.

Duncan Mubiru and Kuku Rwangi both riding at 230 points on the leader board were the other two drivers to watch out for in the 2-day event. The podium finish for any of the two was likely to change the title chase mathematics.

With four days remaining to the closure of registration, Duncan Mubiru too had not yet registered despite the participation of the top drivers hanging in balance, locals in Hoima said they were ready for the show. “We shall be able to host you, enjoy the scenery, you will be able to see the Fort Kabalega that you’ve been hearing in school; that’s where the Kabalega used to escape during the time of the colonialists, and we have a tunnel which is 3km from here to Mpalo where he was buried.” So far only 27 crews had registered for the event.