Ugandan driver Susan Muwonge is set to become one of the few women to compete as a driver in Tanzania’s Serengeti Rally when the event returns to Morogoro from October 1 to 4.
Muwonge will drive a Subaru Impreza, with Musa Nsubuga serving as her co-driver, in the fourth and final round of the 2026 rally season.
The competition will be held at the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) plantation in Makundi, Morogoro, and will feature competitors from Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, India and Uganda.
Chief rally supervisor Dr Mosi Makau said Muwonge’s participation was significant because women who had previously competed in the event had largely done so as co-drivers.
“What makes us proud is Muwonge’s participation as a driver. Women who previously took part in these competitions served as co-drivers, but this time Muwonge will drive the car herself,” Dr Makau said.
He said 23 cars had been entered for the event, with eight competing in the African Rally Championship (ARC) and 15 in the National Rally Championship.
Two Tanzanian drivers will compete in the event, while the remaining competitors will come from the four other countries, Dr Makau said.
Muwonge’s entry comes as organisers seek to broaden participation in a sport that has traditionally attracted fewer women as drivers, particularly at regional and international level.
Beyond competition, organisers and sponsors say the rally is expected to bring visitors to Morogoro and support tourism and local economic activity.
Richard Sinamtwa, deputy executive director of Mkwawa Group of Companies, the event’s main sponsor, said motorsport could help connect Tanzania with participants and fans from across the region.
“Through these competitions, we should maintain Tanzania’s image and use sport to continue promoting tourism, conservation and the development of our communities,” he said.
Tanzania Motorsports Association chairman Satinder Singh Bardi urged spectators to observe safety rules during the event, particularly by remaining in designated viewing areas.
He said spectators should follow instructions from security officials to reduce the risk of accidents as rally cars compete at high speeds.
Bardi said organisers had put safety measures in place to ensure the four-day event is conducted in an orderly manner.