BUYENDE

A total of 15 contestants of Miss Tourism Busoga 2023-2024 have been unveiled.

The unveiling was on the top of Kagulu Rock in Kagulu sub-county, Buyende district.

The girls are in contention for the region’s tourism queen crown set to be announced on August 26, 2023, during the annual Kagulu Rock Climbing Challenge in Buyende.

Busoga Kingdom Tourism Minister Hellen Olga Namutamba (5th L), local artist Cilicon Avokoz (2nd R) and contestants in the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty Pageant 2023-2024 in one of the ancestral caves at the top of the 3600ft Kagulu Rock in Buyende district on Friday after being unveiled. (Photo by Donald kiirya)

According to Doris Praise Walusimbi, the Miss Tourism Busoga co-ordinator, the online voting is on-going and the contestant with highest votes will also secure the title of Miss Tourism Popularity.

The contestants, include Winnie Kasoga, Eunice Evelyne Tabuuza, Sandra Gloria Namutamba, Priscilla Wanyama, Mercy Tenywa, Gloria Gladys Mbeiza, Priscilla Suubi and Jackline Kagoya.

Others are Shamim Nangobi, Rashidah Nabiryo, Patricia Kyeera, Nashibah Mbeiza, Carol Josephine Namusobya, Hamisa Kilunda and Latifah Naigaga.

Busoga Kingdom Tourism Minister Hellen Olga Namutamba (2nd R), the Busoga Tourism Ambassador Acidic Vokoz (3rd R), local artist Cilicon Avokoz (R) and some of the contestants in the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty Pageant 2023-2024 feeling the holy water at the well located on top of Kagulu Rock in Buyende district on Friday after unveiling the contestants. (Photo by Donald kiirya)

Contestants in the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty Pageant 2023-2024 jumping in air while at the top of the 3600ft Kagulu Rock in Buyende district on Friday after being unveiled. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

While unveiling the contestants on Friday, Busoga Kingdom’s tourism minister Hellen Olga Namutamba said Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV will be the chief climber.

Nadiope is also expected to unveil the monument of Prince Mukama Namutukula, a descendant from the Abaise Ngobi of the Babiito dynasty and said to be the founder father of Busoga.

Contestants in the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty Pageant 2023-2024 pointing at the monument of Prince Mukama Namutukula that will be officially unveiled by the Kyabazing of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV. They were on top of Kagulu rock in Buyende district on Friday. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

Namutamba led the journalist in touring the cave and a well said to have holy water, rest places and Namutukula monument.

She said a cultural exhibition and health camp will be organised on August 24 at Kagulu where doctors will screen for cancer and treat various non-communicable diseases.

Namutamba appreciated President Yoweri Museveni for his financial support used to construct climbing steps and Namutukula’s monument at the top of Kagulu rock and further hailed various media houses for being part of the sponsors of the event.

“President Museveni made the promise of supporting to re-develop the site during the 2018 Kagulu Rock Climbing Challenge and he has fullfilled it,” Namutamba said, adding that lights will also be installed alongside the poles on the steps to guide tourists who will trek the rock at night.  

Namutamba said the Busoga Tourism Board, led by its patron Rebecca Kadaga who is also the First deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister of East Africa Community Affairs, has a five-year strategic plan and it is through this plan that tourist sites in Busoga are going to be re-developed with an aim to attract more tourists.

Busoga tourism ambassador Mutwahiru Kakaire aka Acidic Voko, a local artiste from Busoga, promised to promote tourism and tourist sites in Busoga through his music.

Kakaire also pledged to identify and promote talent among local artistes in Busoga region. 

One of the contestants, Latifah Naigaga, 22, from Bulamoji said given a chance, she is going to promote her culture and heritage through food tourism and tourism sites in Bulamogi like the St. Gonzaga Gonza site in Kaliro among others.

Winnie Kasoga, 24, from Bukooli Chiefdom pursuing a Bachelors of Records and Archives Management said that if she is crowned Miss Tourism Busoga, she will promote tourism through information communication technologies by posting some of the tourist sites in her Chiefdom and Busoga at large, on social media.