This followed the successful organisation of Burundi's Great Lakes Rally in Uganda in 1996.
The Great Lakes Rally was moved to Uganda due to political instability in Burundi.
[1] As Winston Churchill visited Uganda, he baptised the country as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, that's where this event receives its name from.
[1] Some remarkable drivers in the history of Uganda are Sospeter Munyegera, Shekhar Mehta, Satwant Singh, Charlie Lubega, Moses Lumala, Emmanuel Katto and Chipper Adams, among others.
[1] Source: Motor Sport Uganda [2] and African Rally Championship[1]