The 2022 national rally season-opening event, Mbarara Rally, will not go on.
The motorsport governing body FMU reached a decision to cancel the event after the organising club, Mbarara Motor Club, failed to effect the recommendations agreed upon during the crisis meeting held on Thursday afternoon.
The contention was on the dates for the competition. While the initial dates as submitted to the national road safety council were January 21-22, the organising club was insistent on running the event from January 21-23.
The club also failed to submit an itinerary on time.
“The Mbarara Motor Club (MMC) failed to submit event documents in conformity with the recommendations of FMU and the Ministry of Works and Transport despite numerously extended deadlines. Last effort zoom meeting held today 20th January with Club officials has yielded no results.
“The Speed-lift Instrument from MoWT, which is required for issuance of an event permit has not yet been received yet event starts tomorrow,” reads part of the press release from the FMU General Secretary Leilah Mayanja.
More than twenty crews were already in Mbarara, about 280 kilometers from the capital Kampala preparing for the event.
The club last organized an event in 2020 and in the same year had secured assurance on holding a rally in 2022.
Mbarara rally becomes the first event in recent years to be cancelled due to matters other than calamities.