Alison Mary Akello, Uganda’s representative at the Miss Tourism Africa 2024 pageant, secured the prestigious 2nd Runner-Up position at the grand finale held on Monday, October 1st, 2024. The event took place at Lagos’ Landmark Centre, Nigeria, featuring 20 contestants from various African countries.
Akello, who handed over her Miss Tourism Uganda Teso Region crown in August to Betty Acam Okello, was selected to represent Uganda on the continental stage. Her performance saw her rank among the top five contestants, making her one of the standout participants of the night.
In the lead-up to the finale, Uganda was a frontrunner in the Miss Popularity contest, with Akello garnering 465 votes, followed by Namibia (382 votes) and Mauritius (368 votes). Her commanding lead in online voting made her a favorite throughout the competition, as anticipation built around the potential for a Ugandan victory.
As the competition intensified, Akello called on her fellow Ugandans to support her through prayer and continued voting, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support she had already received. “This is the only opportunity we have, and I want us to pray to God for this crown to come home,” she said.
Uganda’s Mr. Tourism Africa representative, Bernard Nabaasa, also attended the event, offering further national representation on the global stage.
The winner of Miss Tourism Africa received a cash prize of $2,000, along with trips to the Maldives and Milan for Fashion Week. Although the crown eluded Uganda this time, Akello’s remarkable performance at the pageant remains a source of pride for her nation.
