Road to the crown begins: Miss Uganda 2026 auditions set to kick off in July

Uganda's hunt for its next beauty queen has begun. The Miss Uganda Foundation has unveiled the Road to the Crown 2026, setting in motion another chapter of glamour and ambition under the theme, “Beauty with a Purpose”.

Launched on Tuesday, June 17, at the Oppein Experience Room in Kampala, the event attracted several media personalities, cultural influencers and corporate partners.

 
At the heart of the event was the presentation of the reigning Miss Uganda 2025, Trivia Elle Muhoza, accompanied by first runner-up Agatha Drakes Keine and second runner-up Gloria Katushabe.

The trio reflected on their year-long reign and expressed gratitude to the sponsors and partners who have supported their journey.

"We are deeply grateful for the support our partners have given us," said Trivia, will represent Uganda at the Miss World competition. "I won't disappoint when I take to the global stage."

 
Roy Ronald Tumwizere, Brand Manager for V&A Sherry at Uganda Breweries Limited, said theie partnership aligns with the brand's belief in empowering young women. "I'm incredibly proud that V&A Sherry gets to be part of a journey that gives young women a platform to become change-makers in society," he said.

It was all happy faces at the Miss Uganda 2026 launch. Photo by Ignatius Kamya

"It meant a lot to see one of the Miss Uganda Foundation's own, Hannah Karema, go on to contest for Guild President at Makerere University."

 
Miss Uganda CEO Brenda Nanyonjo said the pageant continues to uphold the ideals of the Miss World Organisation, searching for young women who embody beauty, intelligence and a commitment to making a positive impact in society.

Brenda Nanyonjo (center) and former Miss Uganda Phiona Bizzu (left) share a light moment with guests during the launch of Miss Uganda 2026. Photo by Ignatius Kamya

"We have never seen Miss Uganda as merely a beauty pageant; we see it as a platform to transform lives," Nanyonjo said. "We are now in our 15th year, and we hope to go even further together with all our partners and sponsors, including V&A Sherry." It is fiftenn years since Nanyonjo became the pageant’s license holder.

To qualify for the competition, applicants must be Ugandan citizens aged between 18 and 26, possess a valid National ID or passport and have completed at least Advanced Level education or its equivalent. Contestants should not be married, engaged or have children, must have no visible tattoos, be fluent in English and a native Ugandan language, and maintain good moral standing with no criminal record.

Regional auditions will kick off on July 2, beginning in Eastern Uganda before moving to West Nile, Northern, Western and finally the Central region. Nanyonjo noted that the traditional starting point in West Nile was changed due to the Ebola outbreak.

The search will culminate in the grand finale scheduled for October 10th at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

 
Meanwhile, the organisers of the pageant said that the car the current title holder won is not worth her stature. They are looking for a better car for the next queen.