Oscar Ntambi crowned Africa Rally Championship 2 champion after Safari win and Rwanda recovery
The Ugandan driver clinched the title at the Serengeti Rally in Tanzania, seven points clear of Rwanda’s Christian Kanangire
Ugandan driver Oscar Ntambi has been crowned the 2026 FIA Africa Rally Championship 2 (ARC2) champion, completing a season that began with a World Rally Championship debut in Kenya and survived a retirement on home soil.
Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Ntambi won the title in the final round, the Serengeti Rally in Tanzania, held from 2 to 4 October 2026. He finished the championship on 69 points, seven ahead of Rwanda’s Christian Kanangire on 62.
A winning start in Kenya
Ntambi’s season opened in March at the WRC Safari Rally Kenya, his first appearance at World Rally Championship level. Partnered by co-driver Uthumaan Muhamadi, he won the ARC2 category despite mechanical problems, including a broken driveshaft and suspension damage. He finished 22nd overall.
“Safari Rally is one of the toughest rallies in the world, and it pushes both the driver and the car to the limit. We had some mechanical difficulties, but the main goal was to control the car and finish well,” Ntambi said after the event.
The win gave him an early lead in the ARC2 standings.
Setback in Uganda, recovery in Rwanda
Ntambi’s campaign hit trouble at the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, where he retired on home soil and lost championship points.
He responded at the Mountain Gorilla Rally in Rwanda, finishing second in ARC2 with Pius Luggya as co-driver. The result kept him in the title fight. His Kenya win and Rwanda runner-up finish proved decisive in the final standings.
“This championship means a lot to me because it has taken a lot of work from the whole team. We had good rallies, and we also had a difficult one in Uganda, but we kept working and came back. Winning the ARC2 championship is something I am very proud of,” Ntambi said.
Sponsor backing
Ntambi’s Kenya outing was made possible by KCB Bank, which supported five East African drivers at the 2026 Safari Rally. In March, the bank announced a Sh380 million sponsorship for Ugandan rally drivers, including Ntambi, Nasser Mutebi and Mike Mukula Jr. It also entered a partnership with the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) to sponsor the entire National Rally Championship season.
“If there was no support from KCB Bank, I would never have made it to the Safari Rally. They put in a lot to keep the car running and were happy that we finished as winners,” Ntambi said after his Safari victory.
He said the Safari also taught him about international competition. “There’s a lot to take in long distances, reconnaissance techniques, and how international rallies differ from ours in Uganda. This debut has given me insights that I will use in future competitions,” he said.
Federation reaction
FMU General Secretary Reynolds Kibira said the result reflects the progress of Ugandan drivers at continental level.
“For FMU, this achievement is a strong demonstration of what Ugandan talent can accomplish when allowed to compete at the continental level,” Kibira said.
Ntambi’s season included a WRC debut, a category win at the Safari, a title-clinching finish in Tanzania and a recovery from a difficult home rally. He says the experience gained across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania gives him a stronger base for his next step in international rallying.
