The 2026 Shell V-Power Pearl of rally presents the biggest number of foreign entrants ever.
The 2025 Africa Rally Champion winner, Yasin Nasser leads the line up of top African racers including Jasmeet Chana, Aakif Virani, Nikhil Sachania, Hamza Anwar, Samman Vohra and Nikhil Sanchana and two-time ARC champion Karan Patel (Kenya) and Ahmed Huwel (Tanzania).
The entry list has raised the expectations and excitement of the Motorsport fans and thousands are expected to flood the city of milk in the event that starts on Wednesday May 6th,2026 with documentation and qualifying stages. The drivers will later battle it out the following days till saturday May 9 with the power stage.
On the local list including KCB and Cornerstone fuelled Mike Mukula Jr in Subaru N14, Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru in Ford Fiesta proto, Musa Ssegaabwe, Oscar Ntabi (Evo 10) and four-time National Rally Champion Ronald Sebuguzi fuelled by Shell-VPower and Centenary Bank has a lot to tell.
However, with the list confirming the intensity of the event Ambrose Byona is more than ready for the challenge.
Shaking off the rust and redjusting intensity will be Ambrose Byona’s top challenge, returning to the wheels in the very competitive Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Kiruhura and Mbarara districts.
Byona popularly known as Omunyeeto returns to active competition after close to 7-year sabbatical but targets finishing the event in a good position.
Driving a Mitsubishi evolution 10, aka Beat, Omunyeeto also has to target reliability over speed as many drivers returning from such a rest fail to prioritize finishing their first event back over the immediate podium finishes.
Byona, who will also be learning the dynamics of a left-hand drive car, has vowed to give the event favourites a run for their money re-learning the car’s dynamics.
“We are going to caution where need be but we shall push where it requires,” Byona who is navigated by female co-driver Suzan Kalema.
Byona is making a surprise return to the top level with the Evo 10 a superior car to the Evo9 he used to race before the break, but the man brings excitement to the fans who have been longing for him.
Sponsored by Yaobai Cement, Lato Milk, Optima mines and Minerals, Kabango Coffee and Kamuntu and Transporters.
The 2026 Shell V-Power Pearl of Rally has attracted 64 competitors including 23 foreign crews sponsored by KCB Bank, UTB, Nivana Water, NCS, Kiss Condom and Fire and Safety Appliance.
