Mildred Kibuuka’s golden doors open as she makes WRC Safari debut

BY FRANK KAHEESI & HENRY MBAZIIIRA- NAIVASHA, KENYA.

BEGINNING her racing career years back, experienced Ugandan rally co-driver Mildred Kibuuka never dreamt of racing close to World’s top racing stars, just as in the same event, the 2025 WRC Safari Rally.

The opportunity landed in her hands when Kenya’s Timothy Kinoti went out poaching for a navigator a week before the rally; Kibuuka was the lucky one amongst the many who had been recommended for the job.

She has back home called notes for several drivers that, included Peter Kalule ‘Ken Block’ of Uganda, Hajji Musa Mulika, Dr Mustafah Mukasa, Fred Kitaka, Ponsiano Lwakataka and others.

In Kenya, she navigated Haran Thetty in Guru Nanak, Sammy Nyori in the 2016 Safari Rally, Huye Rally in 2017 and some local events.

She also called note for fellow country lady Leilah Mayanja in the 2014 Safari Rally; thus, Kenya has been a second home away from Uganda for rallying.

“It’s great a chance to race with the World’s best; it’s a worthy experience and outing at the WRC Safari rally that I only read about in the book,” a beaming Kibuuka poured out to us.

With high scores so far with her new team, Kibuuka is headed for bigger things, as the team is yearning to have her for some season racing in Kenya.

My driver is a rookie, but the good thing is, he got good training from the best in Kenya, thus looking forward to working towards the finish line and bringing the car back in good shape.

When asked how she found the WRC Safari rally recce, she responded: “Recce is quite different from what we normally do, no time wasting or resting at every minute of desire, the route is quite slippery, raised ruts.”

However, I am here to further open career doors; who knows what the future might hold for me if all things go well?

Uganda is mainly represented by two Crews of Yasin Naser and Ali Katumba in Ford Fiesta R5 ‘NEMO’, and Timothy Gawaya, going to be navigated by Francis Wamala in Seat Ibiza, caught many eyes at Safari.

It was breathtaking to just do recce with the world’s best drivers. Sharing the same space with them is something else.

“We did recce for all sections with our simple Toyota Starlet my former rally car, none could believe it could complete recce without any issues, as even bigger cars were breaking down “Our rally car, the Seat Ibiza became a centre of attraction in Kenya at the Naivasha service park on Tuesday, as one of the Spanish competitors was overwhelmed seeing a car manufactured in his home country.”

Hours before passing the final scrutineering, Gawaya’s heart went racing as he was sidelined by scrutineers when he failed to present the latest FIA homologated safety gear, including helmets, plus inner wear worth 15 million Uganda shilling that didn’t he money at the time of scrutineering.

This sent him into panic, as he was given a few hours to fix everything before heading to the start line.

“God is God of miracles; I came to drive the Safari and am not going back to Uganda without doing so,” a soundly confident Gawaya intimated to the writer.

“Technically our inners and helmets could do ARC but not WRC,” Gawaya explained.

As luck could have it by his side, indeed, a miracle happened; he was rescued by fellow rally drivers back home in Kampala, who raised funds for him and got cleared by Wednesday afternoon.

Super rally action unfolds at Kasarani super special stage at 1300hrs, with two racing cars running at once; they will head to the 8.15km stage in Naivasha before doing service at Naivasha Wildlife Institute and ending the day.

Safari Rally Kenya is a motorsport adventure like no other. Known as one of the toughest and most unpredictable events on the calendar, it challenges drivers with rough terrain, deep ruts, and the ever-present threat of sudden rainfall.

Set in the heart of Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes, the rally blends modern WRC competition with the spirit of classic endurance events.