Motocross has in the past decade gained popularity across the region with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda hosting several regional tournaments. Riders participate in each country’s events like Kenya’s Safari Rally; the Pearl of Africa Rally in Uganda and the Tanzania Rally.

There has been significant growth in Kenya since the sport was revived in the 1990s. In Uganda, the sport has gained popularity, and Ugandan riders, especially in the junior class, are now the ones to beat within the region.

Rwanda and Burundi have expressed interest in joining the regional tournaments as they also seek to grow the sport in their countries.

However, motocross events in Uganda face insecurity problems as the tournaments usually attract large crowds. It’s such security concerns that saw Kenya fail to send riders to Uganda for the third round of the regional championships, which were to be held from December 6-7.

Last year, there were great concerns over the Ugandan leg in Garuga, Entebbe when fans of Ugandan riders hurled stones and bottles at each other and at the racing track. A Kenyan rider was hit by a stone at a jump, which caused him to crash; he had to be airlifted to Nairobi for treatment.

In April this year, Kenya raised concerns after some of their riders were pelted with stones and bottles by fans, forcing the organiser to halt the event for some time.

“It’s good that fans from Uganda are increasing every year but we have to mitigate the issues of security if the future of motocross is to be assured,” said Kenya Motorcycle Commission chairman Maina Muturi.

Muturi said they had written a report for the global motocross body FIMA and followed it up at a conference in South Africa in June and when Nairobi hosted the second leg in August.

“We went for the Africa Championships in October in South Africa where we raised the issue with FIMA. We informed them that the course in Busungi, Uganda, which was to hold the third leg in December, wasn’t safe,” said Muturi adding that they unanimously agreed that Kenya would withdraw from the third leg after Uganda failed to guarantee the safety of Kenyan riders.

However, Muturi said they will have a meeting with Ugandan officials in January to try to rescue the championship. “There is massive potential for growth in Uganda so we have to engage seriously on issues of security,” said Muturi. “We need to make a calendar next year and we must include Uganda, who are to host one leg while Kenya hosts two legs.”

Uganda Motorsport administrator Arthur Blick said it was a pity that Kenya failed to send riders for the third leg in the Uganda event after having addressed the safety concerns with the continental body, who sent Team Africa official Ray Wilson to oversee the event.

“We put all measures in place for a secure event but Kenya chose not to send its riders,” said Blick. “Nevertheless, all is not lost since we must do everything we can to save the series.”

Blick said Ugandan riders have participated in Kenyan events despite the country’s ongoing security challenges. “All we need to do is put aside these minor differences and engage with each other for the improvement of the sport.”

Muturi said 2015 is a crucial year for the region because they are looking to incorporate Rwanda and Burundi for the first time. Muturi and Blick were in agreement that there was a need to engage Tanzania as the sport had taken a nose-dive there owing to the politicisation of the sport in that country.

The Automobile Association of Tanzania focuses on rallying rather than motocross. Tanzania’s situation has been complicated further by the rivalry between Arusha Club, where most riders come from, and the Automobile Association of Tanzania.

“Arusha riders didn’t want to be controlled by AA from Dar es Salaam and so didn’t want to run as a club,” said Muturi, adding that they have advised the riders to continue participating in events on an individual capacity as the problem is resolved.