Tanzanian based international rally co-driver Moses Matovu experienced a fraught start to his 2010 FIA African Rally Championship season when he and driver Jas Mangat retired their Subaru Impreza N12B from a podium position with overheating issues.

The pair, who were teamed up for the first time on the Kobil Rally of Tanzania, experienced handling issues on the first full day of rallying and ended the leg in fourth position, a mere eight seconds off the podium.  However overnight adjustments to their car, running on a 33mm restrictor for the first time, transformed the handling and the pair were back on the pace on Sunday morning.

A pair of second fastest times elevated Mangat and Matovu into third overall but the rough nature of the stages took their course when the radiator was damaged and they were forced out of the event within sight of the finish!

Moses: This is the second rally in two weeks that I have retired from whilst holding onto a podium position! Our pace on Sunday was brilliant and Jas and I had a good time until the radiator was damaged! I am now looking forward to continuing my training with Peter ahead of our WRC debut!

Moses now heads off to the UK to begin preparations for his World Rally Championship debut alongside Peter Horsey. After an intensive training session in Scotland Matovu will return to Uganda to compete alongside rallying legend Emmanuel Katto for the opening round of the Ugandan Rally Championship!

Photo courtesy of Viren Shah

www.geoffmayesmedia.com

Sunday 30^th August was yet again the Annual Clans of the Baganda in the UK  Sports day which was held at McMillan Stadium at Newham Leisure Centre in East London. As usual, it was a well attended event with a range of activities to suit almost everybody from the age of 3 upwards. Competitive activities included table tennis, badminton, basket ball, omweso, draughts, football and athletics field and track. The 50 plus had no excuse not to participate as there was a walking race as well. As last year, Jomayi Property Consultants teamed up with Empapula Za Kakobe magazine to sponsor this event with contribution from Pier One Sound Systems plus the many volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly.

The essence of this sports day is to bring together the Baganda in their major building block which is the clan. It is an opportunity not only to have fun and keep fit but to fraternise with one’s clansmates, strengthen the sense of togetherness and, probably most importantly, inculcate in the young ones, even those born outside of Buganda, the fact that they have strong cultural roots which they should cherish wherever they are. It makes them aware that they are related to people they may never have met before and this sense of belonging to a wider, bigger entity which eventually makes you a Muganda and explains one’s surname and eventually who you may and may not marry is treasured.

This sports day is unique in that it involves everyone who wants to compete and amass points for their clan unlike back at home where only those selected as good enough and trained represent their clan. This makes everyone feel important for their clan.

The medals ceremony was presided over by Prince Daudi Ggolooba and Naalinnya Elizabeth Nakabiri introduced by Fred Ssemugera the Chairman of Ebika Bya Baganda E Bungereza. This was preceeded by the crowds rendering of”Ekitiibwa kya Buganda ” ( Buganda’s anthem )which was made jespecially joyful by the  under 13’s who sung it with gusto and enthusiasm. All this was after one of the highlights of the day, the tug of war which is one of the events where one sees the effort and pride contestants put in on behalf of their clans, the weaker ones often being literary dragged on the floor but still walking off with pride. The medals won, especially by the young people, were the icing on the cake. Many winners walked away proudly with wide smiles and a sense of belonging and worthiness, let alone the self esteem of achievement for self and clan.

This year, Ngabi were toppled into second place by Mmamba. Third were Lugave and Ndiga fourth. A total of twenty six clans were represented.

The highly popular London hosted Annual Ebika Bya Baganda e Bungereza Sports Day for this year is slated for Sunday 30th August 2009 according to one of the organizers, Mw. Fred Ssemugera. Individual and team events will include track and field, rope tag of war, omweso, drafts, table tennis, basketball, badminton, swimming and 5-a-side soccer. The track and field competitions will pit Baganda of all ages in 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter as well as 100 x 4 relay sprints.

The Baganda games will be held at the McMillan Stadium, Newham Leisure Centre, Plaistow, London, E13,  from  1:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The guest of honor will be Buganda government minister for Tourism, Ow’ek. Nakiwala Kiyingi. Other ceremonies on the same venue will include an exhibition of arts and crafts from Buganda and viewing of videos promoting tourism in Buganda.

More information is available from  Fred Ssemugera on 0208 428 9553 and 07956 455 133, Dr. Ssekweyama on  0208 670 5590, Yosef Serugo on  01708 747 398, Yiga Matovu on 0208 854 3554 and Daudi Sserukeera on 07944 162 354.

The Uganda Cricket team put up a valiant fight on April 6, 2009 against the current ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Champions, Scotland.

The match at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa ended with Scotland ahead by 45 runs despite valiant batting performances – in particular that of captain, Junior Kwebiha, eventually caught by Scotland’s Moneeb Iqbal after making 69 runs – and the collapse of the Scottish batters in the last 3 overs of the 1st innings. Ronald Mukasa also put in a fine batting performance with 6 boundaries, finishing on 37 runs after being bowled by Dewald Nel.

Uganda finished all out for 164, against Scotland’s first innings total of 209 for 9.

This was the 4th match in the group that includes Ireland, Canada, Namibia and Oman. Uganda’s next game will be on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 against Oman in Pretoria. The Super8 leg of the tournament will begin on Saturday ,  April 11, 2009 but it is yet to be seen if Uganda will make it through or if the 4th place in Group A will go to Oman.

Sally Jacobs in Johannesburg for Buganda Post