CK Updates
KCB Financial institution Uganda Flags Off Oscar Ntambi Forward of 2026 WRC Safari Rally – The Panorama Uganda
David GOMBE
KCB Financial institution Uganda, in partnership with the Federation of Motorsport Golf equipment of Uganda, has formally flagged off Oscar Ntambi and his co-driver Asuman Muhammed forward of the 2026 World Rally Championship Safari Rally.
The ceremony additionally unveiled fellow Ugandan drivers Duncan Mubiru, Yasin Nasser and Timothy Gawaya, signalling a stronger nationwide presence on the 2026 rally. Held on the FMU headquarters in Lugogo, the occasion marked the ultimate countdown for the Ugandan contingent as they put together to move to Naivasha, Kenya, for the worldwide showpiece scheduled for twelfth–fifteenth March 2026.
This flag-off follows KCB Financial institution’s latest sponsorship announcement supporting Oscar Ntambi and his co-driver Asuman Muhammed’s participation within the 2026 World Rally Championship Safari Rally. KCB Group has dedicated as much as KShs 227 million, underscoring its deep-rooted dedication to motorsport growth within the area. The funding is geared toward maximising workforce efficiency and equipping native expertise with the technical and monetary backing required to compete towards the world’s finest.
In the course of the ceremony, the Federation of Motorsport Golf equipment of Uganda additional strengthened nationwide help with an extra dedication of UGX 40 million in the direction of the workforce’s journey, lodging, and logistical preparations, reaffirming its mandate to facilitate Ugandan participation at elite international-level competitors.
Whereas officiating the flag-off, Zainab Kalyowa, the Model Expertise Supervisor at KCB Financial institution Uganda representing the Head of Advertising, stated, “At the moment marks a big milestone for Uganda’s motorsport fraternity. We’re proud to flag off not solely Uganda’s most interesting expertise, however rivals representing Africa on the worldwide stage. We imagine Oscar, alongside the opposite drivers, will make Uganda proud. His journey from native champion to WRC contender is a real testomony to our ‘For Folks. For Higher.’ promise, which continues to information our dedication to investing in communities and nurturing excellence.”
Kalyowa added, “At KCB Financial institution, we imagine within the energy of sport to unite and encourage. We’re proud to offer the platform and sources that assist our athletes transition from native success to worldwide recognition, not simply in motorsport, however throughout different disciplines comparable to rugby, volleyball, golf, and extra. We stay dedicated to persevering with this essential help and nurturing Uganda’s sporting expertise.”
Oscar Ntambi, a former Nationwide Rally Champion, will pilot a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Ralliart as he makes his debut look on the world stage. In expressing his gratitude, Oscar Ntambi shared, “I’m immensely grateful to KCB Financial institution for believing in me and supporting my journey to the WRC. This isn’t only a private achievement, however a illustration of our nation’s potential on the world stage. I’m prepared to present my all in Naivasha and make my nation proud.”
The performing President of FMU urged all Ugandans to return out in full spirit, waving our nationwide flags excessive. Your help is important in showcasing the eagerness and expertise inside Ugandan motorsport. Collectively, let’s elevate the profile of our nation’s motorsport scene and proceed to drive in the direction of excellence”
The rally will cowl a complete aggressive distance of 350.02 kilometres, supported by a liaison distance of 842.9 kilometres, in step with FIA necessities. The four-day occasion will likely be based mostly in Naivasha, a transfer designed to fulfill the FIA 2026 sporting rules on distances and crew working hours, shifting away from the same old ceremonial flag-off in Nairobi.
On Thursday, twelfth March, there will likely be a shakedown on the newly launched Nawisa stage. This will likely be adopted by a ceremonial flag-off earlier than the automobiles cross Camp Moran and Mzabibu phases. On Friday, thirteenth March, automobiles will cross Camp Moran, Loldia, Geothermal, and Kedong. On Sunday, 14th March, motion will head to Soysambu, Elementaita, and Sleeping Warrior, earlier than concluding with an autograph signing at Mzabibu.
Sunday, fifteenth March, marks an electrical day of motion as automobiles rev off from Oserengoni, Hell’s Gate, earlier than passing the Wolf Energy Stage within the afternoon, culminating within the prize-giving ceremony. The four-day occasion in Naivasha will see Ntambi compete alongside world icons comparable to Sebastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville.
KCB Financial institution continues to reward its clients throughout this era, providing an opportunity to win VIP tickets for individuals who transact utilizing the financial institution’s cell banking platforms to make sure the Ugandan fanbase is well-represented in Kenya.
“As Ntambi heads into the Safari Rally’s difficult and dusty phases, KCB Financial institution Uganda is looking on all Ugandans to rally behind him. We’re additionally rewarding clients who transact by way of KCB Cellular Banking, by way of the app or *244#, with an opportunity to win VIP tickets to look at the Safari Rally dwell in Kenya, bringing the fun of the WRC nearer to followers who champion the game,” Kalyowa concluded.
The statistics are not a surprise to Umar Ali, who plays for Route One Rovers – a semi-professional team in Bradford.
During Ramadan last year, he was racially abused by a group of opposition spectators as he was waiting to come on as a substitute.
“It was our first game playing while we were fasting,” he said. “So obviously we were hungry that day and I was a bit less patient.
“Then when I was getting ready to come on, one of the fans said I should shave my beard off and that I looked like a paedophile.
“One of them picked up a child who was about six, seven years old, and said ‘I bet your wife’s the same age as this child’.”
Umar described the men as in their sixties.
“It’s quite distressing, because they’re older than my dad,” he added. “They’re my grandad’s age, and they felt comfortable enough to stand there and make comments like that.”
Umar said the assistant referee heard the comments and told the referee, who he claims did not take any action.
The police were eventually contacted and the spectators identified. Umar has not been informed of an outcome.
His manager Mohammed Patel was in the dugout during the match and said – while the opposition coaching staff apologised on behalf of their fans – he felt the officials fell short and should have removed those spectators shouting racist and Islamophobic abuse at his players.
Patel said: “It was a really emotional day for us, because the question we asked ourselves after that game is ‘Why is it still happening?’ Some of the things that were said were absolutely horrific.
“In my opinion, more needs to be done from the top down. We’re actively engaging and working with local FAs to try and navigate this problem, but it absolutely needs to be mandated.”
The Northern Counties East Football League fined the opposition club £300 and gave them nine disciplinary points. But Patel says that does not address the real problem.
“We’ve seen harsher punishments for violent conduct on the pitch or red cards, even administrative mistakes,” he added.
“Something as serious as this, we were absolutely not happy with the result.”
Patel has been lobbying the Football Association, but has not yet received a response.
He said: “Precedents need to be set, harsher sanctions need to be introduced. This comes from the top down.”
The FA said in a statement: “We have introduced tougher sanctions for clubs and individuals, a new behaviour improvement programme, and penalty points accumulation charges in the grassroots game.
“This builds on the steps taken to allow for deductions of league points from clubs that are repeated offenders of serious misconduct.”
Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.
Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.
Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.
Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.
It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.
There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.
An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.
A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.
It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.
Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.
“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.
“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”
Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.
Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.
Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.
The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.
The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.
Kick It Out calls for tougher sanctions as football discrimination reaches new high
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
West Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell
Commonwealth Games 2026: Scotland’s Archie Goodburn on battling brain cancer
Tour de France 2026: Pogacar makes history, cycling steps up anti-doping, and popularity grows
World Cup 2026: Gianni Infantino tells Fifa critics to ‘meditate, pray or watch football’
Miya Scores Twice as Vipers Start CECAFA Kagame Cup with Convincing Victory » The Touchline Sports activities – The Panorama Uganda
3M Open: Rookie Jackson Koivun holds nerve to beat Scottie Scheffler for first PGA Tour win
Miya shines on debut return as Vipers introduce themselves to Djibouti’s Garde Republicaine – The Panorama Uganda
Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
