NFA, NEMA organize Miss Earth Uganda 2015

By Juliet Lukwago                    

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) in conjunction with National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) is organizing beauty pageant that aims to promote environmental awareness.

According to the pageant coordinator, Victoria Nabagereka, Miss Earth is a beauty pageant contest that aims at promoting environmental awareness, and empowering young women with knowledge on environmental protection.

The competition will register 20 young females from 20 districts with the purpose of choosing one queen who will advocate for the environment as well as representing Uganda in Miss Earth worldwide competition come November this year.

“Currently, the environment is rapidly undergoing through degradation, encroaching on wetlands and forest reserves; through the pageant, we want to set standards for beauties who understand the environment,”Nabagereka said at Imperial Royale on Saturday.

“We want to have a Miss Earth who will be able to initiate projects advocating for environment protection as well as representing Uganda this year in Miss Earth worldwide competition” said Nabagereka.

She added that, the search for Miss Earth already kick off and end this week where the selection criteria will include, being informed about environment sphere, beauty with brains, above 18 years old and having completed senior six among others.

Nabagereka said that the 20 beauty queens selected will be hosted in a boot camp where they will be trained on environmental related issues for 8 weeks and later 15 will continue to the finals and the winner will walk away with a brand new car, monthly salary and other prizes.

Andrew Kyamagero and Victoria Nabagereka addressing journalists about the Miss Earth pageant at Imperial Royal on Saturday evening August, 1, 2015. PHOTO BY JULIET LUKWAGO

She said this year’s theme 'Beauties for a Cause' is a focus on activities that promote the protection of the environment such as greening and recycling, among others.

The winner will receive a brand new car, an allowance and will participate in all Miss Earth activities in Vienna in Austria to contest with beauty girls from 100 countries.

She revealed that since the pageant is 20 district-based including Kampala, Mukono, Masaka, Wakiso, Luweero, Mbarara, Kabalore, Hoima, Masindi, Kabale, Kisoro and Jinja, Mbale, Tororo, Soroti, Kumi, Arua, Gulu, Lira and Kitgum they will closely work with local officials and council chairpersons, together with pageant delegates and MEU district delegates.

“At district level, competitions to carry out and ensure that each of the participating candidates is not only beautiful but also environmentally- informed,” Nabagereka said.

The evaluators will come from National Forestry Authority and National Environmental Management Authority (Nema).

“Miss Earth Uganda is a beauty pageant in search of the most beautiful young Ugandan lady who is very knowledgeable about her environment and who will strongly stand as an ambassador for the protection and preservation of the environment. The winner of the pageant will also represent Uganda at the Miss Earth pageant.” She added.

Gilbert Kadiro, NFA representative, said that “The Miss Earth Uganda is an annual beauty pageant in Uganda and was created in 2014. It is responsible for sending Uganda's representative to the Miss Earth pageant which is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness.”

“Currently, the environment is rapidly undergoing through degradation, encroaching on wetlands and forest reserves; through the pageant, we want to set standards for beauties who understand the environment. We are looking for a girl to be an ambassador for the nature and culture of Uganda,” he added.

However, Andrew Kyamagero one of the organizing committee member, winner of miss earth Uganda will serve as an ambassador to environmental protection campaigns in the country and also represent Uganda to one of the biggest international beauty competitions-Miss Earth Pageant.

 “Uganda in 2007, 2008 was represented by Hellen Karungi and Victoria Nabagereka. In our efforts this year to create awareness about environmental sustainability, we focus on activities that highly promote the protection and preservation of the environment such as greening, recycling, tree planting, energy efficiency, and Eco-tourism and carbon conscious life style choices among others. We work to combat the ill effects of global warming.” He said.