18 year old is Miss Tourism Busoga region

By Donald Kiirya        

EIGTEEN-year-old Roberta Jean-Marie has been crowned Miss Tourism Busoga after beating 18 other contestants. Jean-Marie was declared winner on Saturday evening at the Jinja Nile Resort hotel after emerging best following a question and answer session.

Eighteen contestants turned up for the pageant, out of which fifteen, ten and five were selected and finally the top three, with Jean-Marie who has just completed her International Baccalaureate diploma at the Aga Khan high School walking away with the Miss Tourism crown.

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Some of the contestants who competed during the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty peagant at Jinja Nile Resort . PHOTO Donald Kiirya 

Christine Nalwadda Zaake, 22, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree of science in Accounting and Brenda Ankunda, 21, a recent graduate were the first and second runner-up respectively.

Jean-Marie who received a gift pack and a bouquet of flowers from Margaret Kataike Ndobole, the Minister of State for Luwero Triangle could not hide her joy and kept smiling as relatives and friends came to pose for photos with her.

Although she did not get time to talk to the audience, the new Miss Tourism in an earlier interview said she would promote Busoga’s tourism sites and Uganda’s hidden treasure.

trueRoberta Jean-Marie cat walks during the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty pageant. PHOTO Donald Kiirya

“We have wonderful water bodies. People would wish to come and visit the second largest fresh water body Lake Victoria, River Nile and others. We have wild animals that most countries do not have which can motivate tourists,” Jean-Marie from Kamuli said.

The pageant was the first of its kind in Busoga and it will be organized annually.

The three beauties will tour five Scandinavian countries which include Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Norway.

“Expenses for their trip, inland travels, meals, accommodation and other necessities will be paid for,” Kafufu said.

trueJudges: R-L: Moses Zikusoka, Carol Gwiina and Miriam Namutosi at the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty. PHOTO Donald Kiirya

Minister Kataike commended BTI for going a mile to transform Busoga Tourism sites adding that government was committed to promoting tourism in Busoga and Uganda at large.

The judges included Miriam Namutosi the Principal of HTTI, Carol Gwiina from Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and Moses Zikusoka from Miss Tourism Uganda.

Sponsors of the event included, Uganda Tourism Board, BTI, Veronah Enterprise, Club beer, Ketoro designs, Joram Model Management Uganda, Darling and Symphony Tours and Travel Ltd. 
 

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The State Minister for Luwero Triangle, Sarah Kataike Ndoboli (M) and her daughter during the Miss Tourism Busoga pageant at Jinja Nile Resort Hotel on Saturday. Behind Hon. Ndoboloi is Jinja West MP Moses Balyeku.PHOTO Donald Kiirya

trueTraditional dancers entertaining guests at the Miss Tourism Busoga beauty pageant at Jinja Nile Resort Hotel on Saturday.
PHOTO Donald Kiirya