This coming weekend, the majestic hills of Fort Portal and the winding stretches of Kyenjojo will roar once again with engines, action , and ambition as Uganda’s rally elite descends for the UMC Fort Portal Tourism City Rally 2025. But for fans, it’s more than just a race — it’s personal.
For fans and followers of the Walts Rally Team, all eyes are on one name: Walter Kibande, fondly and fearfully known across the rally fraternity as “The Walter Problem.”
After a heartbreaking DNF in the previous round at the Bugerere STABEX Jinja Rally — where Walter and his co-driver Duncan Katumba were on blistering pace before a deep ditch swallowed their championship hopes for that weekend — the team returns hungrier, sharper, and more determined than ever. Now sitting at the top of the Clubman Rally Championship (CRC) leaderboard with 55 points, Fort Portal is more than just another race — it’s the battleground where championships hopes are going to be shattered, won… or lost.
Driven by the motto “MAT&KO Walipa Dem”, Walter and his team are not just chasing points — they’re chasing a dream. A dream forged on the street racing scene, where Walter cut his teeth, and now burning bright in FMU National Rally championships under the CRC category spotlight.
His car, the iconic Subaru GC8, has become something of a legend on the local rally circuit — not just because of its performance, but because of the man behind the wrench. Walter is not just a driver; he’s a mechanic, an engineer, and a Subaru guru, personally building and maintaining his machine from the ground up at Walts Auto Garage Kireka. Every bolt, every turbo spool, every engine, every skid on a corner — it’s all Walter.
With only three CRC events left, 70% of the championship outcome rides on this Fort Portal showdown. If the Walts Rally Team can finish on the podium, their grip on the CRC crown tightens. But another DNF, and the pressure from rivals intensifies dangerously.
Walter’s strategy? Controlled aggression. He’s not underestimating the competition — as he often says, “I respect every driver on that start line, but I know what I’m bringing to the finish line.” That humility, matched with raw talent and grit, is what has earned him the respect of both fans and fellow drivers.
Walter Kibande is not just a competitor; he’s a symbol of what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. From the narrow tarmac of street races to the technical dirt trails of the national circuit, he’s climbed ranks not with big budgets or factory backing, but with skill, vision, and a crew that believes every nut turned in the service and garage is a step closer to the top.
He’s also become a beacon for young rally fans and aspiring drivers who see in him not just a racer, but a future champion, possibly a contender in the National Rally Championship (NRC) 2026. If CRC has been a warning, NRC might just be the year of “The Walter Problem.”
The rally fraternity is watching. The terrain will be unforgiving. The stages — 125km of competitive sections across five stages plus the super special — will test every driver’s nerve and every car’s soul.
But for the fans — for those who have watched Walter’s rise, seen him turn wrenches late into the night, and felt the heartbreak of Jinja — we believe. We believe in his hands, his feet, and most of all, in his heart.
To Walter and Duncan, we say: Go show Fort Portal who’s boss. Go drive not just for the podium — but for the dream, the team, and the championship we know you can win.
Let’s write history.
Sponsored by:
Walts Auto Garage Kireka
Nana Kitchenaries
