Ugandan rally driver Oscar Ntambi is determined to deliver a solid performance as he makes his debut at the iconic WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha next month.
Ntambi will form part of a five-driver regional squad backed by KCB, including Kenya’s Karan Patel, a two-time African champion, paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania, Tinashe Gatimu and Queen Kalimpinya of Rwanda.
The Kampala-born driver, who hails from Buziga, Kampala, has steadily risen through the ranks of East African motorsport to earn a slot at the demanding World Rally Championship round set for Naivasha from March 12-15.
Ntambi will tackle the Safari Rally in a Mitsubishi Evo X, navigated by long-time co-driver Muhamadi Uthumaan, with whom he has partnered since 2018.
He remains realistic about the task ahead. “This is my first attempt. I do not really know the roads or the surface, so my main target is to finish,” Ntambi said, acknowledging the rally’s reputation as one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar.
The Ugandan insists his focus is firmly on delivering a disciplined drive and reaching the finish ramp. “We promise to do our best in the Safari Rally,” he said.
Ntambi began his competitive rally journey in 2017 after years of closely following the sport. He acquired his first rally car in 2018 and, with the support of his brother, converted it into a competition-ready machine before sharpening his skills through training sessions.
His breakthrough came in 2021 when he joined the CRC Championship and won the final three rallies of the season.
In 2022, he stamped his authority on the Ugandan scene by clinching both the National Rally Championship title in the 2WD category and the 2WD Sprint Championship.
After a relatively quiet 2023 season, Ntambi stepped up in 2024 with an upgrade to a Subaru N10, focusing on adapting to more powerful machinery.
The 2025 season proved challenging, as mechanical problems and a heavy roll disrupted his campaign. However, he bounced back strongly after switching to a Mitsubishi Evo X, finishing the year as second runner-up in the Ugandan national Sprint Championship.
