KAMPALA — Ex-rally ace Dipu Ruparelia as been elected new president of the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of Uganda (FMU).
Dipu emerged victorious with 36 votes—beating the incumbent president Dusman Okee who only managed 14 votes.
He also saw off competition from former president Jack Wavamuno, who got 25 votes and Geoffrey Nsamba with 11 votes only
“This is a dawn of the new era. We are going to build the sport to a level that can motivate many more to join it,” said Dipu after beating Okee who he accused of promising a lot and delivering nothing while leaving motorsport marshals to continue earning peanuts.
In other positions, Shemmy Senkatuka was elected Vice President beating Ken Kitariko and Kees Kagolo.
Jeff Kabagamba has been re-elected the deputy Vice President Motorsport— beating Leon Ssenyange.
Leila Mayanja has been elected on the Management Committee after beating Reynolds Kibira to the General Secretary post.
Ernest Zziwa has been re-elected the Assistant General Secretary while
Kisitu Mayanja will be the next deputy vice president motorcycling after edging George Semakula and Joseph Mwangala.
The post for Vice President Vintage was left open after the candidate Hussein Kato failed to meet requirements.
Dipu is one of the founders of the Uganda Motorsports Club (UMOSPOC) and used to drive for Crane Bank Rally Team.
He retired from the sport in 2015.
Dipu, a rally ace whose Mitsubishi Lance Evo 4 was one of the cars that excited motorsport fans during the sport’s most competitive era in the late 90s and early 2000s, says he will return the Federation to motorsport drivers who should be at the heart of it’s running, arguing that what is missing is unity among the drivers.
