Miss Uganda 2025: 25 contestants compete for the crown

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MISS UGANDA PAGEANT

It is that time of the year when the Miss Uganda beauty queen is crowned, as will be witnessed at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Saturday.

The 25 young girls, scouted from around the country, will be aiming at succeeding Natasha Nyonyozi, also the current Miss World Beauty with a Purpose queen, for the crown that has stood the test of time since 1967, when Rosemary Salmon became the first to be crowned.

Since then, a bevy of beauties have worn the crown to be the ambassadors of Uganda on the global stage of Miss World International.

Premised on the theme Beauty with a Purpose, the event tasks contestants to come up with projects to positively change the world around them. That shows that once crowned, she will use the crown to not only slay cover pages and runways, but use the crown to change the world around her. Nyonyozi is a renowned advocate for children with special needs, especially autism inspired by her young sibling’s diagnosis.

Nyonyozi followed Hannah Karema (2023/24) who finished among the top eight finalists of Miss World contest. The most a Ugandan beauty queen has gone so far was Quiin Abenakyo (2017/18), fi nishing among the top fi ve and crowned as Miss World Africa in 2018.

The Boot Camp

The boot camp this year has focused on arming the girls with various entrepreneurial and survival skills than just prepping for the grand fi nale. The girls were taken to a number of manufacturing factories and furniture showrooms, where they got an up-close look at the artistry and innovation. They also visited Grace Textile factory in Mbale.

To hone their resilience skills, the girls were introduced to karate in a self-defence class. From mastering powerful karate techniques to building mental and physical strength, the fi nalists embraced every moment of this transformative experience.

Brenda Nanyonjo, the pageant organiser, said: “This training isn’t just about physical defence. It is about self-assurance and discipline. Miss Uganda queens are not only beautiful, but also fearless and unstoppable.”

Over the years, the Miss Uganda pageant has given us incredible memories, especially during the regional searches, road trips to those towns, rib-cracking moments during the question-and-answer sessions, the after parties, scandals and cat fi ghts in the boot camp, controversies surrounding the choice of winners and so forth.

In the run-up to Saturday’s finale, the Talent Night and Top Model night attracted a sizeable number of crowds cheering on loudly, blowing vuvuzelas and all, at times irritatingly.

During the Top Model session that was held at MoTIV in Kampala, the girls walked for different designers. From intricate detailing to the striking silhouette, the earthy hues to flowing patterns with details that tell stories of Uganda’s rich heritage, the evening was filled with outfits that served as a true testament to creativity.

For the beach beauty shoot, the girls embarked on a mini-vacation to the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They were transported in eco-conscious style aboard the innovative Kayoola EVS. This, the organisers say, was a way of showcasing sustainability and beauty hand in hand.

The Talent Night held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on September 6, brought out the best in the contestants, with performances in music, spoken word, dance and drama.

Winners of several categories, like Miss Photogenic, will also be announced at the grand finale on Saturday. “The winner will get the crown and a car, as always,” Nanyonjo said.

The winner will represent Uganda at the Miss World at a venue yet to be decided.

What to expect

There is no Miss Uganda beauty contest without controversy. There is always a part of an agitated audience that will question the prize car, the beauty of the eventual winner, the set-up, the organiser, under-table deals and much more. The 2025 edition does not promise to be different.

The contestants have been garnering online votes for a while. In that drive, Elle Trivia Muhoza has had quite a campaign, with many influencers pushing their followers to vote for her. That it is largely the same team that promoted the current Miss Uganda raises eyebrows. However, by press time, Muhoza was not in the lead of the people’s vote.

Questions are likely to revolve around hobbies and projects. Some, like Zainab Ssentongo, have unique projects. Her “Expatriates in Distress” project should have judges put her on the spot. She should be a beauty with brains to score highly on that. We have recently confirmed that we have many expatriates in distress in the Middle East countries.

Others seem to just put things together without making concrete sense. Shaluwah Abasa Nabatanzi’s role model is Daphine Frankstock, yet her project is to support single mothers. It should have made sense if she had chosen a single mother who has trudged through it all as a role model, perhaps. Frankstock is Comedian Patrick Idringi’s wife, and the two live together with their children. Will she reveal a connection between her project and a role model that has been kept a secret from us?

Others have their mothers as role models. Apart from Iryn Namubiru, isn’t everyone’s mother one of their role models? Two of the contestants, Ratifah Sekyema and Patricia Janet Alobo, have a very interesting hobby of making money. The details should be interesting.

If hobbies are anything to judge the Ugandan society by, there would be more bookshops than bars. A number of contestants place “reading novels” as a hobby. The judges should blow the cover on those who might have lied, like if you asked someone to name their favourite novelist, and they instead mention an autobiographer or a poet and playwright, like William Shakespeare. It is such moments that provide humour at Miss Uganda pageants.

Mirror, mirror: who is the fairest?

Bathsheba Gift Namugga, 20, Masaka
Hobbies: Movies and hanging out with friends.
Role model: Mother
Project: Mental health

Rebecca Akampulira, 21, Rukungiri
Hobbies: Swimming, movies and volunteering
Role model: US talk show host Oprah Winfrey
Project: Fighting HIV/ AIDS stigma

Shaluwah Abasa Nabatanzi, 20, Kayunga
Hobbies: Dancing, singing, and watching reality shows
Role model: Daphine Frankstock, wife of comedian Patrick Salvado Idringi
Project: Support single mothers and newborns

Shaluwah Abasa Nabatanzi, 20, Kayunga

Noella Komujuni Ayebare, 21, Mbarara
Hobbies: Learning languages, dancing and reading.
Role model: Pakistani female education activist Malala Yousafzai and my mother
Project: Ability First, for all persons living with disabilities.

Noella Komujuni Ayebare, 21, Mbarara

Elle Trivia Muhoza, 22, Bukomansimbi
Hobbies: Fashion, swimming, listening to podcasts and reading novels.
Role model: My mother
Project: Single mothers who have gone through domestic violence.

Elle Trivia Muhoza, 22, Bukomasimbi

Ratifah Sekyema, 20, Buikwe
Hobbies: Cooking, writing, fashion, public speaking and making money
Role Model: Mother
Project: “Pad up a Girl”

Ratifah Sekyema, 20, Buikwe

Grace Akao, 24, Alebtong
Hobbies: Singing, painting, and ball games
Role model: US motivational speaker Deshauna Barber
Project: Hydrocephalus awareness and early intervention.

Grace Akao, 24, Alebtong

Ritah Bakunzi Nyiramugisha, 22, Nakaseke
Hobbies: Travelling, listening to old R&B music and spending time with family.
Role model: US politician Kamala Harris
Project: Affordable vocational education.

Ritah Bakunzi Nyiramugisha, 22, Nakaseke

Agatha Drakes Keine, 24, Sembabule
Hobbies: Video editing, creative writing and research
Role model: US political activist Angela Davis
Project: PCOS women’s reproductive health.

Agatha Drakes Keine, 24, Sembabule

Aminah Nalubega, 24, Masaka
Hobbies: Content creation
Role model: Socialite Sheilah Gashumba
Project: “Digital confidence”, positive use of social media.

Aminah Nalubega, 24, Masaka

Joan Kankunda, 24, Mbarara
Hobbies: Dancing, styling clothes and creative writing
Role model: Miss World Africa 2024 Lesego Chombo
Project: Environment management through plastic waste sorting.

Joan Kankunda, 24, Mbarara

Patricia Janet Alobo, 24, Zombo
Hobbies: Reading novels, swimming, and making money
Role model: Mineral Development State Minister Phiona Nyamutoro
Project: “Pad a Girl Campaign”

Patricia Janet Alobo, 24, Zombo

Gillian Ampaire, 22, Kiruhura
Hobbies: Cooking, volunteering and travelling
Role model: My mother
Project: Youth in slum communities - “Hope for the slums”.

Gillian Ampaire, 22, Kiruhura.

Gloria Stephanie Nabulo, 22, Bududa
Hobbies: Modelling, dancing, reading and acting
Role model: Miss Uganda CEO Brenda Nanyonjo
Project: Girl child education.

Gloria Stephanie Nabulo, 22, Bududa.

Patricia Nairuba, 24, Jinja
Hobbies: Modelling, reading and adventure
Role model: Technologist Barbara Birungi Mutabazi
Project: Bridging the gender gap in technology.

Patricia Nairuba, 24, Jinja.

Jamirah Namubiru, 21, Masaka
Hobbies: Basketball, cooking and charity
Role model: Somali American model Halima Aden
Project: Combating malnutrition in Uganda.

Jamirah Namubiru, 21, Masaka.

Miriam Norah Naigaga, 26, Namutumba
Hobbies: Thrifting, cooking, travelling and swimming
Role model: Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi
Project: Agricultural entrepreneurship.

Miriam Norah Naigaga, 26, Namutumba

Tracy Gillians Akot, 22, Kole
Hobbies: Journalling, travelling and cooking.
Role model: Late Dokolo Woman MP Atim Cecilia Ogwal
Project: Menstrual hygiene campaigns.

Tracy Gillians Akot, 22, Kole.

Ingrid Asasira, Wakiso
Hobbies: Poetry and cycling
Role model: South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Project: Awareness on fistula.

Ingrid Asasira, Wakiso.

Miriam Jael Zalwango, 21, Masaka
Role model: Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda
Project: Unleashing talent in the young generation, honouring culture.

Miriam Jael Zalwango, 21, Masaka.

Elizabeth Jemimah Nelima, 24, Mpigi
Hobbies: Sleeping, flying and making money
Role model: US academic administrator Elizabeth Coleman
Project: Raising kings, empower the boy child.

Elizabeth Jemimah Nelima, 24, Mpigi.

Faith Kirabo, 24, Kabarole
Hobbies: Travelling and watching movies
Role model: Joseph Ruyondo Mugambwa
Project: Empowering abandoned and orphaned teenagers.

Faith Kirabo, 24, Kabarole.

Patricia Bahati, 22, Kyankwanzi
Role model: My mother
Project: Mental wellness
Hobbies: Journalling, reading novels and travelling.

Patricia Bahati, 22, Kyankwanzi.

Zainab Ssentongo, 23, Wakiso
Hobbies: Travelling, swimming, and modelling.
Role model: Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray
Project: Expatriates in distress.

Yvonne Nabukeera, 23, Jinja
Hobbies: Eating, movies and travelling
Role model: My mother
Project: Cancer awareness