Susan Muwonge: Queen of speed

When Susan Muwonge first started out as a rally driver in 2007 at Garuga racing track, few could have guessed she would win the championship, not once, but twice. Although this speed merchant did not have that much money she has through sheer determination and skill, set new records and challenged the status quo, earning herself the nickname Super Lady, along the way.
Born, raised, married and worked in Buddo, Muwonge is daughter of Sweden-based Fred Kitonsa and the late Regina Namukasa. But her childhood memories rotate around her grandmother Firima Nakitto Kibuuka with whom she spent most of her childhood.
Muwonge attended St Mary’s Primary School Nabbingo, St Henry’s Girls’ School Buyege where she was bullied for her small stature yet she ended up being appointed the head girl, a role she was uncomfortable with. It did not matter though. To this day, the best rally driver this year, feels this is a souvenir she tags along with.

“I did not know that such responsibilities would be important in my life until I owned my school,” she recalls.
She completed her A-Level from Gombe Secondary School before attending Kyambogo University for her bachelor’s degree and just recently, she completed her Masters degree from Makerere University.

Teaching life
Muwonge and her husband, Lawrence, opted to start St Francis Junior School in Buddo Wakiso District soon after her graduation. Although she sometimes teaches, she concentrates on administrative work.
Opening with only 51 pupils, the school started its journey with four classes. She has now been in business for more than 10 years and some of the original employees have stayed with her.
“Everyone that works here is an integral part of the whole process and that is why there is very little turnover,” she comments about what makes her school tick.
Muwonge thinks the decision was inspired not just by need, but by her longstanding passion for education.

Mad about cars
The passion for cars was instilled in her by her husband as she enjoyed driving fast on the road.
She purchased her first sports car in 2005, a Mitsubishi Evo 2 formerly driven by Jamil Ssenyonjo although she has a knack for big cars and by then she was driving a Mitsubishi Pajero Station Wagon.
In her first full rally in Rakai in 2005, she finished a respectable sixth.
“People did not believe when I announced that I wanted to be a national champion,” she says. “Today, I am privileged to be the only woman taking on men.”
Indeed, Rose Lwakataka and Laila Mayanja, the only challengers, have not stood the test of time. Muwonge relies on her tenacity and determination to push forward in a field exclusively owned by men.

She sees her first race back as a stepping stone towards her current success. Considering she won her first national title way back in 2011, Muwonge is more than thrilled to be at the top again.
“I am really excited to be the champion again,” she said. “I really missed racing for three years as I concentrated on family and school priorities. This championship is for me and my team.”
She now wants to give the African championships a try saying, “Locally, I will drive for fun because we have already made a statement and there is nothing more to prove.”

Balancing act
Throughout her racing career, she enjoyed balancing between business, family and personal businesses.
She plans her season around the available schedules. She says, school is planned for three months each term while the seven rallying events are spread throughout the year. The rest of the time is for family.
“The most important thing is to be there for my children. I am open to them because I know their future starts with me. I also have to perform my wifely duties, sometimes cooking and doing housework.”
Her family likes going out and Uganda Cranes games at Namboole are a must attend while sometimes they go swimming or enjoy the cool breeze at the beaches of Lake Victoria. But it is her music career that has suffered as it is on hold as she works on other priorities. She is a recording artiste with one full album.

Team thing
Apart from living a prayerful life, winning this year’s championship is credited to her trusted community.
The team has always held fasting and prayer sessions with Anthony Mugambe, the navigator of Kephar Walubi, a prayer warrior. The self-proclaimed staunch Catholic, attends church at Mountain Carmel in Busega. Inside her offices are symbols of the Cross and the unmissable relic of the late Msgr Aloysius Ngobya.

Her eight member team is headed by her husband with Fred Kalyowa, Jonathan Kayiso, Ritah Namakula, Betty Nabateesa, Counsel Cissy Nakibuuka, Andrew Seninde, and Ronald Gomba doing the planning that rotates around 5Cs; consistency, confidentiality, composure, competence and communication. Fred Wampamba and Joseph Kasana mind about the car’s well-being as mechanics.
She says, “It has been great to have each one’s support, especially this year because we stuck to the original plan and we delivered the title.”

Not her success
Critics say she fluked the championship. The Subaru N12B driver’s victory was gifted by the withdrawal of Jas Mangat on the eve of the last calendar event in Mbale following a decision to deduct points for the earlier Pearl of Africa rally.
She went into the final event, five points short of Ronald Ssebuguzi, who dropped out on day one after 29kms with broken drive shaft.
“You cannot fluke twice,” she said.

But she is not doing it for herself. According to Muwonge, racing is always a challenge to do your best.
“Economically, rallying is very expensive but I want to show the world that if women can drive cars, why can’t they rally? I want women to believe in themselves because it starts within and no one should wait for others. Actually, when I started, the critics kept pushing me,” Muwonge says.

Challenges
Susan Muwonge’s latest victory puts her level with legends Moses Lumala (1999, 2003) and Ponsiano Lwakataka (2005, 2007) on two national titles. Yet since 1999, only Charlie Lubega (2004), Jas Mangat and Ronald Ssebuguzi (with three each) have won more than two titles.