by Sharifah Namagoba Ramah October 3, 2025
“I am now at peace” was the remark that came from Yasin Nasser after so much reflection on the trials of getting Africa’s rallying crown.
The newly crowned Africa rally champion then sipped on a soft drink as we conversed. The continuous smile on his face said as much.
“The Africa rally title is my ultimate career fulfillment,” Nasser spoke out after marking a decade in motorsport with the African title.
Nasser and Ali Katumba (Ford Fiesta Rally2) clinched the maiden ARC title in September in a rather dramatic end-of-season rally in Tanzania. The Uganda crew needed the last kilometers of the event to edge their rival Samman Vohra by a single point.
“Thinking about that day gives me the same feeling I had then. A lot was on our minds, especially after our strategy was a bit off. At one point, we thought we lost it.”
“Just imagine being under pressure, panicking, overthinking, and losing hope, all whilebeing hopeful. By the final stage, nothing mattered anymore but to finish and accept the results,” he explained further.
The Moil Rally Team started the final event with eight points after leading the championship from round two. It was the closest he had ever been in the ARC title race.
Two points collected from the power stage were vital. Overall, the fourth-place finish was good enough to seal the title on a third attempt.
“Now that we are already champions, the imaginations we had of if we hadn’t won the title have since faded. But there was anxiety every time the thought crossed my mind,” he said.
The ARC title raised Yasin to the highest echelons of Uganda’s motorsport. Yasin now holds two Uganda national rally titles, one Tanzania rally title, an ARC2 category title, and now the coveted continental title.
It had been 26 years since a Ugandan won the African title. Charles Muhangi (RIP) and Steven Byaruhanga won it in 1999.
“We won this title for Uganda. The fans have been craving for it. They have followed us to all the events we have been to. And now the support from the government through the federation also made it upon us to bring it home. This is a big achievement for the entire fraternity,” he said.
Motorsport is well known as a ‘money sport’ given the high-standard logistics involved.
With three attempts at the ARC title, Yasin admits it has taken some deep pockets to rally across the continent.
“Honestly, I don’t want to think about how much we have spent on ARC. Yes, money was spent. But what matters now is the title. We shall always look at it and smile, and say, it was worth it,” he said.
“Besides, the ARC is even more than money. The time we spend, the days we spend away from our families and businesses. That’s too much to give.
“My sponsors, Moil Energies, my family, the whole Moil Rally Team crew, the fans, and whoever has pushed us in any way. We are grateful for the sacrifice,” he added.
Full of gratitude for the success achieved and looking back at how it all began, Yasin says the ARC race was never in his plans at the earlier stages.
“I joined the sport to have fun and enjoy myself. But that all changed when we bought the GVB. We found ourselves in line for a title, and we won our maiden title in 2019.
“After COVID, we attempted several ARC events. We also landed a chance to compete for the ARC2 which we won in 2021. At the end of that season, our minds were thinking of the ARC title and the Ford came the next year,” he narrated.
Yasin kicked off his rally career in 2015.
His entry was rather controversial, as the local motorsport governing body, FMU, almost delayed his start over a regulatory requirement for him to start in the two-wheel drive category.
A decade later, from almost failing to compete in his first Ugandan rally to claiming the African title. For Yasin and his co-driver, Katumba, the journey to being Africa’s finest will forever remain a memorable one.
