There was pomp, glam and glitz as the new Miss Uganda was crowned over the weekend.
Miss Hannah Karema Tumukunde was crowned Miss Uganda 2023 at a fabulous ceremony held at UMA Multipurpose Hall, Lugogo.
The colourful event was telecast live on Makula TV exclusive only on StarTimes Uganda who were the main sponsors of the pageant.
Due to global COVID-19 pandemic, Miss Uganda was last held in July 2019, where Oliver Nakakande was crowned the winner but later (2021) handed the crown to Elizabeth Bagaya who has been the reigning queen ever since.
The glamorous red carpet-event on Saturday that was attended by the elite in the celebrity world saw the queen crowned.
The event was hosted by veteran MC Mitch Egwang and Anita Fabiola and saw performances from the likes of Levixone, Jackie Chandiru, B2C Music, among others.
Over twenty finalists tussled it out in different categories and at the end of the night, Hannah Karema emerged the new beauty queen for the next one year.
Karema reached the top 5 contestants together with Jerusha Muwanguzi, Jesca Sserwadda, Whitney Martha Ademun, and Prossy Agwang.
She now takes over from Elizabeth Bagaya who took over from Oliver Nakakande in April 2021 after the latter left the country to pursue her studies.
The beauty pageant was sponsored by Makula TV, exclusive only on StarTimes, Kezzi Entertainment among others.
Government Chief Whip Hon Thomas Tayebwa has said the country is hopeful that Miss Uganda Elizabeth Bagaya will do well at Miss World beauty pageant in Puerto Rico.
During the grand send off to go and represent Uganda at the 70th Miss World Beauty pageant under the theme “Beauty with Purpose” at his office in Kampala, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa said this is a huge opportunity for Uganda because we all know the exploits we made in 2018 when our last representative Quiin Abenakyo who became 5th overall and first in Africa.
Hon. Thomas Tayebwa sending off Miss Elizabeth Bagaya at his office in Kampala
He said as a country, they have high hopes that Miss Elizabeth Bagaya will do even better.
He called on the beauty queen to perfectly sell the image of the country out there.
He lauded Breathtaking Uganda of Isaiah Rwanyekiro and Miss Uganda team for driving this campaign through Tourism.
Below is the full speech from the Government Chief Whip who also doubles as the MP for Ruhinda North County in Mitooma District.
“I want to welcome you to this office first as government official, and more importantly as someone who loves this country and supports initiatives that help promote and drive the country forward.
I therefore want to thank on behalf of the Government of Uganda, the Breathtaking Uganda team and the Miss Uganda team who are behind this initiative to give our daughter Elizabeth Bagaya a grand send off to go and represent us at the 70th Miss World Beauty pageant under the theme “Beauty with Purpose”,
This is a huge opportunity for Uganda because we all know the exploits we made in 2018 when our last representative Quiin Abenakyo performed so well that she became 5th overall and 1st in Africa.
This time round as I have heard our daughter Miss Bagaya stands a huge chance to bring the crown home and so this function is just to send her to Puerto Rico with our blessing. Elizabeth, our hopes are high that you will do us proud in Puerto Rico. You have already done great by being here, but our prayer for you is that God guides you to the crown.
The team accompanying our beauty queen to Fort Portal for this sendoff you deserve a pat in the back for loving Uganda. As a government we are working on policies that will enable domestic tourism to grow. The images you capture and share on your platforms are what motivates many others to join in. So as you visit Kabarole Crater Lakes, Sempaya Hot Springs and boil your eggs, as you visit Mabere ga Nyinamwiru, Kyeganywa Hilltop and Karuzika Palace share those images with the world and let the world see what we have
For Breathtaking Uganda and the Miss Uganda team, we need to engage more often so that such opportunities we utilize to market what we have. To the partners, like Nyaika Hotel and many other well-wishers, we thank you and appreciate your support
