The search is on for Miss Tourism 2015

Miss Tourism 2014/2015, Babirye Patricia at the launch

It’s getting to that time of the year when beauty pageants go into overdrive. Leading the way this year is Miss Tourism Uganda.
The pageant launched its 2015 edition last Friday night at Fairway hotel, with the torch passed over to the regional clusters to begin the search.
The contest supported by the unwavering hand of the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Maria Mutagamba, is to be even more fun-filled this time round with two new tourism clusters joining the contest – that is Karamoja and West Nile. Last year’s search only had nine clusters: Busoga, Buganda, Ankole, Teso, Tooro, northern Uganda, Kigezi, Bunyoro and eastern Uganda (Bugisu).
Speaking at the launch, Mutagamba assured clusters of increased financial support that should be able to ease their work.
“Last year, we gave the clusters Shs 1 million, but we shall this year give them Shs 4 to Shs 5 million,” she said.
The cocktail event was also graced by the reigning Miss Tourism, Patricia Ntale Babirye, and last year’s contestants, ministry of tourism officials, airlines sponsoring the pageant, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and representatives from some of the clusters.
Mutagamba said Miss Tourism Uganda has given the ministry of tourism the kind of image that she always desired.
“When I joined the ministry, I felt there was something missing, and that was a face of the ministry. I am glad that Miss Tourism has done just that,” she noted. “Women contribute greatly to tourism and the pageant is also empowering women by exposing them to the different tourism sites both locally and internationally.”

Maria Mutagambwa at the launch

The contest will run under last year’s theme: “Discovering the wonders of Uganda.” And like last year, it will be scouting for an attractive and intelligent girl who is enthusiastic about tourism and ready to be Uganda’s tourism ambassador.
Last year, Uganda notably featured at Miss Tourism World, Miss Tourism International, Miss Heritage World and Miss Heritage International. Babirye represented Uganda at the Miss Tourism International and came 5th, Roberta Jean-Marie, who was the 2014 Miss Tourism Uganda second runner-up, represented Uganda at Miss Tourism World and was among the top 20.
Some of the regional Miss Tourism winners Florence Namwase represented Uganda at Miss Heritage World and came 6th.
According to Joram Muzira, one of the pageant’s scouts and trainers, contestants should be between the age of 18 to 29, must have at least completed A-level or its equivalent, and be able to express themselves in English. They should also not be below 5’7 and must be Ugandan by nationality. Good moral conduct is vital.
The launch of this year’s pageant was kept lively with performances from artistes Jackson Selugye and Chris Evans who performed a couple of songs that also aim at promoting the country’s tourism.