Major David Ndahura (1942 – 28 March 1970) was a Ugandan military officer, rally driver and member of the Bunyoro-Kitara royal family. On 28 March 1970, at the East African Safari Rally, he was swept away and drowned after his Ford Cortina was marooned on a flooded bridge near Kitui in the Kenya section of the rally.
David Ndahura | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1942 |
| Died | March 28, 1970 (aged 28) Tiva Bridge, near Kitui, Kenya |
Cause of death | Drowning |
Rank | Major |
| Unit | Uganda Army |
| Alma mater | Defence Services Staff College, India |
| Nationality |  Uganda |
| Safari Rally career | |
| Car number | 74 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
Early life and military career
editDavid Ndahura was born in 1942 into the royal family of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in Western Uganda.[1][2]
Ndahura pursued a career in the military, eventually becoming a Major in the Uganda Army.[3] He was trained at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, India. He was discharged from the army by the government of President Milton Obote in 1970. Following his dismissal, he turned his focus to rally.[1]
Rally career
editNdahura made his debut in the 18th East African Safari Rally, held from 26 to 30 March 1970, which was to start and finished in Kampala, Uganda, for the first time.[4] Ndahura entered the race as a privateer. He competed in the #74 Ford Cortina GT, and his co-driver was Jouis Agard.[1][5]
Fatal accident
editOn 28 March 1970, 80 km from Nairobi, Ndahura reached the flooded Tiva Bridge near Kitui. Despite other drivers choosing to wait for the waters to recede, Ndahura attempted to drive over the bridge.[6]
Nduhara's car became marooned in the water. He and Agard climbed onto the roof of the vehicle to wait for the water to recede, but a sudden surge in the river swept the car away. Agard managed to swim to safety, but Ndahura was carried away by the current and drowned.[7][8][9]
References
edit- 1 2 3 "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda: Bunyoro Rally Legend Ndahura Honoured". AllAfrica. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Untitled Document". www.sikh-heritage.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "How can Uganda tap into the Safari rally's economic gains?". Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Why safety aspects of WRC Safari shall not be compromised". Daily Nation. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ admin (7 July 2014). "RALLY REVIEW, May 1970". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ tomas.shacki.wanka; matej.kamenec. "Stage Results - East African Safari Rally 1970". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "UGANDAN DRIVER KILLED BY FLOOD". The New York Times. 29 March 1970. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Seasons | eWRC-results.com". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 12 May 2026.