Hima Cement Ltd, has today announced a USD25, 000 (Ush 84 million) sponsorship of the 2016 edition of the prestigious Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally slated for September 16 – 18, 2016.
Speaking during a press briefing convened to relay the announcement, Mr. Allan Ssemakula, the Hima Cement Marketing Director disclosed that the contribution will also go towards implementation of a Road Safety Awareness Campaign conducted with the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda’s (FMU).
“Hima Cement is an organization that is keen on road safety. Now that we are sponsoring rally, a prestigious sport which both directly and indirectly influences behavior on the road, we thought it wise to have a stand on road safety alongside our sponsorship. The campaign will run until the end of the year,” Ssemakula said.
Adding: “We are proud to support FMU which has a longstanding tradition of carrying out road safety campaigns in partnership with the Uganda Police and Ministry of Works; most recently on Masaka Road; which is one of the areas of concern for the whole country. Hima Cement is glad to partner with FMU in this regard because Health and Safety, on and off the road, is a core value of our organization.”
Hima Cement Limited is the sponsor of rally driver, Ambrose Byona also known as ‘Omunyetto’. Byona in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 and navigator, Derrick Lubambula will be taking part in the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally 2016.
Hima Cement has also in the past sponsored legendary rally ace, Chipper Adams.
Mr. Dusman Okee, the FMU President lauded Hima Cement’s timely contribution saying that road safety was one of the aspects of the sport that the federation was looking at strengthening.
“We are happy that Hima Cement has come on board to support not only the rally (Pearl of Africa Rally) but also FMU’s road safety campaign. As you may know, Uganda is ranked in the top ten countries in the world with the highest number of road accidents; most of them attributed to over speeding and reckless driving. We have taken it upon ourselves to sensitize road users on proper driver etiquette; for drivers to check their vehicles before every journey, to have enough rest, plan their journeys and take regular breaks, to wear seatbelts, lookout for other road users and most importantly not to over-speed. This contribution from Hima Cement and their expertise in Road safety will help us in taking the road safety message even further,” Okee stated.
He added that FMU was happy that companies such as Hima Cement had agreed to bolster the image of the Pearl of Africa Rally; a move he said would help the event regain its past glory as one of the best organized events on the continent.
The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally is one of the main motorsport events in the country. It is part of the National Rally Championship and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC).
During the 2015 edition of the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, Hima Cement injected Ush20 million into the event.
The cement maker has been part of the sport for many years having been the title sponsor of the Pearl of Africa Rally between 2000 and 2004.