Ramathan Mubiru, an 11-year-old driver known as 'King Rama', has shown promising signs in motorsport, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, rally legend Moses Lumala. At a recent event at Garuga racecourse, Rama thrilled the crowd with a fearless display in his XCar buggy. This performance came just days after he represented Uganda at the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations in Namibia. His participation added a new-generation dimension to the celebration of rally ace Ponsiano Lwakataka's 25 years in motorsport.
The event, attended by hundreds of fans, was a celebration of Lwakataka's quarter-century in motorsport. Rama's five-year-old sister, Skylar Baale, also participated, driving car number one on the track in her small yellow buggy. Rama's performance was impressive, finishing 13th overall and beating Ronald Sserunjogi's Subaru Impreza, despite competing in a buggy against more powerful machinery. This achievement suggests that Rama has the potential to make a significant impact in the sport.
Moses Lumala, Rama's grandfather, was the top performer at the event, sweeping all his runs to finish top overall with a fastest time of 5 minutes, 26.04 seconds. His son Musa Lumala was second, just two seconds behind, while Allan Gayi completed the top three. Haruna Kataza, making his Subaru debut, was fourth, and Nasser Mutebi, sponsored by KCB Bank, was fifth. Moses Lumala was delighted with Rama's performance, seeing it as a sign that his grandson has the talent and courage to compete at a high level.
Moses Lumala believes that Rama has the potential to go much further in the sport and could be the next to keep the Lumala racing legacy alive. He attributed Rama's success to his talent and daredevil attitude, stating that he failed to achieve this level of success as a driver himself. Lumala expressed his hopes that finances will allow Rama to continue pursuing his passion for motorsport.
Rama's father, singer Haruna Mubiru, was also delighted with his son's performance and praised Moses Lumala for identifying and nurturing Rama's talent. The event was not only a celebration of Lwakataka's career but also a showcase for the next generation of motorsport talent in Uganda. The fans played a significant role in the event, clearing all debts on Lwakataka's new Volkswagen Polo Proto and providing a major boost for his comeback campaign.
The occasion marked an important milestone for Lwakataka, who returned to competition after an 18-year rally absence. He expressed his gratitude to the fans for their support and appealed to major companies to sponsor his campaign. Lwakataka has already ordered spare parts for the Polo Proto and is preparing to take on the leading crews in the National Rally Championship.
The next test for Lwakataka comes in Gulu due October 9-10, when the fifth round of the National Rally Championship takes place. For Rama, this event may be just the beginning of his journey in motorsport. With his impressive performance at Garuga, he has shown that he has the potential to make a significant impact in the sport.
Key points
- Moses Lumala believes Rama has the talent and courage to compete on the world stage.
- Rama finished 13th overall at Garuga, beating Ronald Sserunjogi's Subaru Impreza.
- The event celebrated Ponsiano Lwakataka's 25 years in motorsport and marked his return to competition.
