While Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru took the overall victory, Hajji Haruna Katazza became the undisputed fans’ favourite at the weekend’s Rajiv Ruparelia Memorial Gulu Rally.
In an outdated Subaru WRX STI, Katazza defied the odds to finish on the podium, clocking a total time of 01:10:17.1, just 2 minutes 31.1 seconds behind rally winner Mubiru.
In a field dominated by powerful Proto and R5 machinery, Katazza out-competed Hassan Alwi’s Ford Fiesta Proto and Musa Ssegaabwe’s Skoda Fabia N5 to secure a sensational podium finish — and then went on to win the Power Stage for good measure.
It was a rally of grit and comeback.
Katazza had a slow start, finishing 10th in SS01A and 15th in SS01B, but promised to wake up strong for Day Two — and he delivered.
On Day Two, he finished 4th and 8th in the first two morning sections before heading for service. After service, he came back firing, finishing 6th in both the fourth and fifth sections, then 3rd and 5th in SS06 and SS07, and 5th and 4th in SS08 and SS09, before conquering SS10 which acted as the Power Stage.
And in a moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy, he also went on to win the famous Ssegaabwe Jump, taking it better than anyone else in the event this year — flat-out, fearless, and picture-perfect.
The Subaru man beat the big-budget machines where it mattered most.
“With this performance in an outdated car, I promise to again get a podium finish in the next event,” a confident Katazza said after his heroics.
From P15 to Power Stage winner and King of the Jump — Hajji Haruna Katazza turned Gulu into his own festival.
