The 2026 Motocross season in Uganda is off to a flying start! This past Sunday, the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda hosted an action-packed season opener at Victoria Raceway Park, Garuga, setting a powerful pace for the year ahead.
It was a proud day for the sport, with an impressive 18 female riders competing across the Junior and Senior categories. The WMX category was a standout moment, showcasing the talent of 8 women at the start gates in the Lites and Open classes.
The federation is looking forward to the rest of the season and hopes to see the incredible number of participants continue to climb.
Motorsport is often described as a high speed arena where precision, passion, and perseverance collide. For Noella Blick, the journey began 23 years ago in the co-driver’s seat, but her path soon accelerated beyond the rally stages into leadership roles that have left an indelible mark on African motorsport.
In 2010, Noella transitioned into officiating as a Technical Delegate, a role she continues to uphold with distinction. Two years later, she was appointed as the FMU Women in Motorcycling (WIM) Commission Representative for Uganda, championing inclusivity and representation in the sport. Her leadership trajectory has since soared. From 2022 to 2024, she served as the first female Vice President of the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU), before taking on the prestigious role of Chair of the FIM Africa Women in Motorcycling Commission in 2023.
Her dedication extends across commissions, where she serves not only in the FMU WIM Commission but also in the FMU Safety and Medical Commission, advocating for both equality and rider safety.
While technical training prepares one for officiating, leadership, Noella believes, requires vision and resilience. Her participation in the FIM Future Leaders Programme proved transformative. The eight-month initiative gathered 20 emerging leaders an equal number of women and men from across the globe. “Interacting with and learning from other FMNs was both eye opening and deeply inspiring,” she reflects.
Throughout her journey, Noella has drawn strength from the pioneering women of African motorsport, including the late Beaulah Shoeman, Jacqui Montero, Julie Wahome, Gilly Dykes, and Sheryl Kibaki. She also acknowledges the support of the FIM team-Barbara Vincitini, Chloé Vermot, Ganna Dumont, and Damiano Zamana as well as FIM President Jorge Viegas, whose leadership insights left a lasting impression.
Her pride extends to the four women from her CONU who stood alongside her during the leadership program: Catherine Ozeros (Morocco), Judy Luyo (Kenya), Lala Rasajison (Madagascar), and Fiona Tsiranana (Madagascar).
As her facilitator, Nadia Bonjour, wisely remarked: “Seeds have been planted and we are empowered to harvest them one step at a time.” For Noella, this is more than a metaphor. It is a mission.
Today, she looks forward with unwavering commitment to empowering women and girls in motorcycling across Africa, ensuring that the sport not only thrives but evolves into a space where every competitor, official, and leader can find their rightful place on the track of opportunity.
UGANDA’S Motocross team, proudly named the Cranes, achieved an admirable third-place finish, securing a bronze medal at the FIM-Africa Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN) hosted in the bustling city of Harare, Zimbabwe.
This triumphant accomplishment highlights their resilience and dedication in what was undoubtedly a fiercely competitive event.
Taking top honors, South Africa once again reigned supreme, securing the overall title with a commanding 717 points, showcasing their unparalleled prowess in motocross by dominating several categories including MX50, MX65, MX Elite, MX2, and MX125, as well as holding a strong lead in the women’s division, WMX.
In a robust display of skill and determination, the Zimbabwean hosts claimed the second position, amassing 468 points with notable performances, particularly in the MX1 class.
Uganda, with a total score of 284 points, proudly secured the third spot, building upon their second-place finish from last year’s event held in Marrakech, Morocco.
The Ugandan team’s stellar performance was also bolstered by individual successes in the junior categories.
Noteworthy achievements came from Uganda’s talented young riders, with standout performances by female racers Hellena Birungi Ainomugisha and Jamairah Makumbi.
Both secured gold medals in their respective junior categories, MX50 and MX65 Ladies, demonstrating their exceptional skill and determination.
In a remarkable feat, Uganda claimed the top three positions in the junior races, affirming their dominance in these categories.
In the MX50 race, Uganda took a clean sweep with Abigail Katende securing second place, followed by Abigail Muwanguzi. Similarly, in the MX65 category, Faith Angel Deedan and Joy Norah Akao took second and third respectively, cementing Uganda’s strength and potential in nurturing future champions.
Among the riders, Birungi shone brightly, not only defending her title as the 2024 African Women Champion but also holding her own in a mixed-gender race, achieving a respectable 12th place overall in the 50CC category.
Uganda also boasted significant accomplishments from riders like Jaysen Katek, Isreal Mpuga, Alber Muwanguzi, and Janan Makumbi, each contributing to the team’s overall success.
The spirited performance of Uganda’s team suggests a promising future, particularly in the junior ranks, emphasizing the necessity for continued development and exposure on the international motocross stage.
“I would like to take a moment to welcome back Team Uganda for achieving a successful podium finish at the Continental event,” said Arthur Blick Jr., FMU’s Deputy Vice President of Motorcycling, who also served as the team manager.
Blick acknowledged the challenges posed by competing on a fully sandy track, which differed significantly from the hard motocross tracks they practice on at home, and praised the team’s adaptability and competitive spirit.
Despite facing strong competition from the dominant South Africans in classes like MX125, Uganda’s riders showcased incredible determination.
Team captain Gift Tabula Ssebuguzi exemplified focus and tenacity, consistently placing fifth in all three heats of this category.
Other prominent Ugandan riders adding to the tally included Ethan Paul Musedde and Jude Musedde in MX65; Miguel Katende, Jonathan Katende, and Ethan Katek in the MX Elite; along with Waleed Omar and Wazir Ali Omar competing in MX2 and MX1, respectively.
The 2025 edition of this prestigious event drew participants from eight different African nations, bringing together a record number of more than 200 riders across junior and senior levels.
These enthusiastic athletes hailed from countries such as South Africa, the host nation Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, and two East African nations, Uganda and Kenya.
Excitement builds as the motocross community looks forward to the next challenge, set to take place in Namibia in 2026.
2025 MXoAN, third position trophyMX65MxoanRider Parents with the victorsTrophies won by Uganda at 2025 MXoAN
Published by: Frank Kaheesi,Head FMU Media Commission.
The 2025 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship is just days away, and Uganda’s rising stars are set to compete against the world’s best.
Romagné, France 5 and 6 July Riders from 38 nations
Uganda’s team FIM 125 cc: Dan Mitima, Jerome Junior Mubiru FIM 85 cc: Adam Kabuye,Isaac Mitima, Jonathan Semakula Katende, Miguel Katende FIM 65 cc: Ethan Paul Musede, Jamairah Makumbi
A word from FIM Africa President Marco Comana “It is encouraging to see young riders from South Africa and Uganda representing Africa at this level. Their drive shows the growing strength of motocross across our continent. I am especially proud to see Jamairah Makumbi lining up in the 65 cc class; her presence will motivate many young girls to follow their racing dreams. We wish the whole team the very best as they ride for their countries and for Africa.”
Let’s cheer on Uganda’s rising stars as they carry the hopes of their nation and continent!
This past Easter weekend, the FIM Central African Motocross Challenge (CAC) marked a significant milestone—20 years since its inception.
The regional event, held in Mityana District, commemorated two decades since the CAC was officially recognised by FIM Africa (then known as the Africa Motorcycling Union) in 2005.
Before its formal launch, regional motocross events were informally organised to grow the sport in East and Central Africa but lacked international recognition.
Arthur Blick Jr, FMU Deputy President for Motorcycling (DVP) and multiple-time MX champion, reflected on the series’ evolution: “I and Maina Muturi from Kenya pushed for the CAC to be recognised in 2005. At the time, I was serving my first term as DVP, and one of my early achievements was establishing the CAC series.”
He added, “Those days we didn’t even have a proper track—the first event happened in Lubiri, and we haven’t looked back since.”
The CAC series typically runs twice a year, with Uganda and Kenya each hosting one event. “Before the series, we just made informal trips to Kenya. Eventually, we formalised them and started attracting riders from across the region,” Blick explained.
The CAC has become a cornerstone of motocross development in Uganda. “These series have been a huge milestone. They introduced a point system and spurred us to improve, aiming to compete with Kenya,” he said. “In the beginning, the Kenyans were far ahead—they used to beat us easily. That forced us to work on our pace, tracks, and all aspects of the sport.”
This year’s event in Mityana was the first time the venue hosted a CAC round. Saturday featured technical checks and a practice heat, followed by heat one. The final two heats were held on Sunday.
For the first time, Kenya did not send a team, leaving Tanzania and Uganda to go head-to-head. The event also counted as Round 3 of the National Motocross Championship.
