Rwanda’s Queen Kalimpinya is already looking forward to the crowning moment when she takes on the Pearl of Africa Rally for the first time this weekend.

The Pearl Rally comes as the second round of the Africa Rally Championship, and it got off proper on Tuesday with crews going through the routes in Mbarara. 

Queen will be featuring in the Ugandan round as she chases African rally glory. She believes there has been more than enough preparation for the challenge. 

“Somehow, the Safari Rally I did in March prepared me for the Uganda rally. I am coming back from Safari Rally, which was tough; I don’t see any challenge with the stages,” she told Kawowo Sports.

Pearl Rally will open Queen’s attempt in the ARC2 contention this season. 

“I will be doing ARC starting with the Pearl. I would have picked points from Safari, but there was an issue with the tank. Now that it is fixed, I will fight for the points here,” she said.

Queen is taking on a second event out of her home country, Rwanda. She will be driving a Subaru GVB.

“Honestly, I am still getting comfortable with the car. Back home, I still drive a GC8, so it is quite tricky.”

“The GVB is a great car, the gearbox is different from mine, and the power is amazing. I am not exhausting its power to the maximum, but I am gradually adapting,” she added. 

Queen will partner with a new co-driver, Olivier Ngabo. The crew’s focus will be to secure a clean finish from Uganda. 

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77 kilometer shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85 kilometres. 

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How is it an African rally experience without rallying in Uganda? Jasmeet Chana is about to taste the Ugandan rally craze for the first time.

The Kenyan National Rally champion is among the foreign crews that will grace the Pearl of Africa Rally, the second round of the Africa Rally Championship, slated for 7th-9th May in Mbarara.

For Chana, it is bound to be more than just a rally experience.

“We have had the urge to come here for the last three years. But thanks to Rubis, they have made the dream come true,” he told Kawowo Sports. 

“I have heard a lot about Uganda. I have watched a lot on television about rally in Uganda. And of course, the fans are out of this world; they always come out in big numbers,” he added.

Chana’s participation comes as he attempts this year’s Africa Rally Championship title.

The Rubis-sponsored crew currently has 32 points after the opening round in Kenya in March this year.

“We intend to go for ARC this year. Let’s see what the results will be. I have heard the roads are nice, smooth and fast. We are yet to see them during recce,” he said.

ARC points will be highly contested, with over 20 crews anticipated to start the event.

“But we are hoping to have a good experience and enjoy ourselves. I believe I will be competitive enough. It is going to be the fourth event with the Ford, and we are gradually mastering it. I believe it is going to be a great experience for everyone,” he said.

Chana and his co-driver and brother Ravi Chana in the Ford Fiesta rally2, along with Karan Patel, Samman Vohra, and Nikhil Sachania, will represent team Kenya.

The Pearl Rally revs off with a 4.66km qualifying stage on Thursday, followed by a 3.77Km shakedown at Mwesigwa Resort in Mbarara.

Rally will consist of twelve (12) stages, running a total competitive distance of 201.85 kilometres.

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On May 3, 2026, it will be a year since Rajiv Ruparelia died. On this day, the Ugandan motorsport fraternity, alongside family and friends, will unite to commemorate one year since the passing of a key person whose influence cut across business, sport, and philanthropy.

Designed as both a tribute and a continuation of his values, the anniversary programme blends remembrance with community outreach, underscoring a legacy defined as much by compassion as by ambition.

The commemorative activities were unveiled on Wednesday, 29th April 2026 at the lavish RR Pearl Tower One, along the Yusuf Lule road.

Rajiv died on May 3, 2025, following a car accident at Busabala roundabout, was the Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group—one of Uganda’s largest conglomerates founded by his father, Sudhir Ruparelia.

Beyond the boardroom, he was a committed rally driver and a passionate advocate for the growth of motorsport in Uganda, while also maintaining a strong footprint in charitable initiatives.

According to organizing committee chairperson Stuart Kimera, the day’s events are intentionally structured to mirror Rajiv’s enduring spirit of giving.

“We celebrate Rajiv because he transformed lives—not only in motorsport but also at a humanitarian level. His reach into communities was profound, and it is only fitting that we honour such a life,” Kimera remarked.

The commemoration will commence with a charity outreach at Mulago National Referral Hospital, where the Ruparelia family will lead a blood donation drive.

Participants will then embark on a memorial procession from RR Pearl Tower, traversing Jinja Road, Entebbe Road, and Nsambya before proceeding to Busabala roundabout—the site of the fatal accident—for a floral tribute.

The day will culminate in prayers and a candlelight vigil at Speke Resort Munyonyo, offering a moment of reflection for all those touched by his life.

The motorsport community is expected to feature prominently. Kakaire Charles, president of the Street Racers Club Uganda, confirmed that leading rally drivers will join the tribute, describing the occasion as both solemn and celebratory.

“This is an opportunity to honour our late brother. We invite everyone to participate—from the blood donation at Mulago to the full programme of remembrance,” Kakaire said.

Organizers have extended an open invitation to the public, framing the commemoration not merely as a memorial, but as a collective reaffirmation of Rajiv’s ethos—service, passion, and community impact.

As Uganda reflects on a year without him, May 3 is set to stand as more than an anniversary; it will be a reaffirmation of a legacy that continues to resonate across industries and lives alike.

Rajiv commenced his Rally debut in May 2019 at the Enduro Autocross championship in the Zion Estates (Ssisa). He then raced at the Kayunga and Kapeeka Autocross rallies, Kalangala rally, Mbarara rally and Kabalega rally.

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