UPDF offer chopper in Pearl of Africa Rally
Security. A helicopter on standby as a rally car cruises in Busika recently. PHOTO BY JOHN BATANUDDE
KAMPALA.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) will provide a helicopter during the 20th edition of the V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally.
The two-day event, which is the fifth round of the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) will run from July 20-21.
“UPDF have been our partners for some time. In 2015 while in Mubende they came to our aid. The chopper will be mainly used on day two in Kayunga for medical evacuation,” Dusman Okee, the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) boss, said during the launch of the event in Bugolobi on Tuesday.
Okee said they are trying to secure another chopper to help clear the rally route.
He appealed to the rally fraternity to stay clear of the rally route.
Meanwhile, Jeff Kabagambe the clerk of the course, has urged the local drivers to speed up their entry process as they have a fixed number of 50 cars. According to Kabagambe, two Tanzania crews; Ahmed Huwel in a Ford Fiesta Proton, Radeep Singh in Mitsubishi Evo X and Kenyan Karan Patel Mitsubishi Evo X have also shown interest.
Already Kenya’s Manvir Baryan, a member of the Multiple Racing Team (MRT) won the event last year in a Skoda Fabia 1600 R5 has confirmed has entry.
On the local scene, Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge the 2011 national champion in a Subaru N12B is the latest local driver to put in her entry. Vivo Energy under their brand Shell V-Power have fueled in Sh110m in the annual event.
