Uganda’s motorsport fraternity could be on the verge of establishing a major annual rallying tradition through the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally, following the success of its 2026 edition in Gulu.
The rally, organised by the Central Motor Club (CMC) from October 8 to 10, attracted 32 crews to northern Uganda, combining competitive motorsport with community outreach in honour of the late businessman and rally driver Rajiv Ruparelia.
Ruparelia, who died in a road accident on May 3, 2025, aged 35, was an active motorsport enthusiast whose involvement in Ugandan rallying began in 2019. He was also a former patron of CMC and played a role in the club’s efforts to expand motorsport activities beyond Kampala.
His memorial rally has now opened up an opportunity for Uganda to develop a lasting motorsport institution comparable to Kenya’s historic Guru Nanak Rally, which dates back to 1973.
The Guru Nanak Rally, associated with Nairobi’s Sikh Union Club, has become a prominent fixture on Kenya’s national rally calendar, attracting generations of competitors and benefiting from sustained community and corporate support.
Tanzania has also developed its own Guru Nanak rallying tradition through the Arusha Motor Sports Club, demonstrating how strong institutional backing, partnerships and committed motorsport enthusiasts can sustain an event over several decades.
However, Uganda’s proposed tradition would have its own identity, built around Ruparelia’s contribution to motorsport and the charitable legacy associated with his name.
Rally combines competition with community outreach
Beyond the competition, the 2026 Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally incorporated a community-support initiative targeting vulnerable groups in Gulu.
Through a partnership between CMC and the Ruparelia Foundation, the Gulu Disabled Persons Union received essential household supplies, including food items, as part of efforts to extend Ruparelia’s charitable legacy to the host community.
The initiative demonstrated how motorsport events can contribute to local development by bringing together competitors, sponsors, businesses, spectators and community organisations.
Hosting the national rally championship in Gulu also offered an opportunity to promote northern Uganda as a motorsport destination while stimulating local economic activity through hospitality, transport and other related services.
Sponsorship and partnerships key to sustainability
The Ruparelia Group and Ruparelia Foundation are expected to remain important stakeholders in preserving the memory of the late rally driver and supporting the event’s growth.
However, establishing a sustainable annual motorsport event will require broader partnerships involving CMC, sponsors, the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda and other industry stakeholders.
Kenya and Tanzania offer important lessons on the value of consistent sponsorship, strong organising institutions, community participation and a recognisable sporting identity.
For Uganda, the challenge will be to transform the memorial rally from a commemorative competition into an enduring national sporting tradition.
This could involve increasing youth participation, attracting regional rally crews, strengthening media coverage and ensuring that every edition delivers meaningful benefits to its host community.
Building a lasting motorsport legacy
With its successful Gulu debut, the Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Rally has established a foundation on which Uganda’s motorsport fraternity can build.
The event has the potential to become an important fixture on the national rally calendar, celebrating local motorsport talent while creating opportunities for young drivers, mechanics, officials and other industry professionals.
More importantly, it could help take rallying beyond Kampala, exposing more communities to the sport and positioning Uganda as a growing destination for regional motorsport competitions.
While Kenya’s Guru Nanak Rally has enjoyed more than five decades of history, Uganda has an opportunity to develop its own distinctive tradition around Rajiv Ruparelia’s contribution to the sport.
Ultimately, the success of the memorial rally will not only be measured by the number of cars at the starting line or the winners at the finish line, but also by its ability to sustain community engagement, nurture new talent and preserve a legacy for generations to come.
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