29th contestant wins out of 29 beauties
Jul 29, 2007
VICTOR Daisy Nabagereka won the crowd over with her perfect 10 frame. To many, she was definitely going to bag the Miss Uganda crown, until she opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Nothing because what she said absolutely missed the target. <br>
By Nigel Nassar and Elizabeth Agiro
VICTOR Daisy Nabagereka won the crowd over with her perfect 10 frame. To many, she was definitely going to bag the Miss Uganda crown, until she opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Nothing because what she said absolutely missed the target.
Asked where she would be five years down the road if she won the crown, Nabagereka confidently said she would make Uganda a better place. She did not say how. Probably because of their bias, the audience gave a thunderous applause.
After a hectic four-month search, the Miss Uganda 2007 contest ended on Saturday in a spectacular event at the Kampala Serena Hotel – thanks to MKM Promotions, the organisers of the event, uganda telecom, the sole sponsor and other contributors like Akright.
While the judges –– Radio One’s Maria Kiwanuka, Samalie Okoth and Akright’s Alex Kamukama and Lawrence Mugisha, among others, zeroed in on Monica Kansiime Kasyate as the crown winner, quite a few did not agree with the choice.
Tristan Winters, a hospitality consultant, believed that Kansiime got more airtime than the others.
“She was brought more to the front of the judges when the MC stood with her. I felt she wasn’t the one,†he said, adding, “There was a little bit of bias. Perhaps the stage was not big enough.â€
Ann Suubi, another member of the audience, shared Winters’ thoughts.
“It was fair up to some point but Miss Uganda came from nowhere. She did not make any moves that showed that she would be one of them,†she said.
At first, there were 29 contestants. Then the sharp axe cut the number to 15. Still, the judges had to remain with the cream. At the intellectual level, seven of the finalists answered questions from the pageant MC Mich Egwang.
The girls looked radiant as they did their catwalk before a full house. While they all exuded remarkable confidence in answering questions, some articulated themselves better, the reason 21-year-old Kasyate walked away with the crown, ending Praise Akankwasa’s two-year reign.
Asked what she would embark on in case she won the contest, the second-year Makerere University Industrial and Fine Art student won loud cheers when she said her priority would be partnering with the pageant organisers to help street children.
When announced winner, Kasyate was so overwhelmed that she staggered to the front. “I can’t believe it. I saw a winner in every contestant. Much as I knew I would be among the first three, I didn’t know I would beat them all. I am so excited,†she said after the contest.
A car, a cash prize of $3,000 (sh5m), a laptop from Computer Vision and a year’s worth of free health services at AAR await Kansiime. She also qualifies for a month’s tour in China this December, ahead of the Miss World contest, where she will represent Uganda.
First runner-up Hellene Kalungi mesmerised the crowd with details about the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be hosted in November.
She said that not only was it already benefiting Uganda in terms of structural developments, but also economically and socially.
The 24-year-old law graduate, who was also crowned Miss Popularity, will represent Uganda at the Miss Earth pageant in Manila, Philippines.
Sarah Kagole emerged second runner-up and was also voted Miss Talent for her dancing skills while Victor Daisy Nabagereka was Miss Swimsuit. Mary Kankyo Towali won Most Deserving Contestant.
Lillian Namulindwa and Winfred Mubiru were Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic, respectively.
Performances included Maisha dancers, Iryn Namubiru, who sang her latest hit Y’ono, before saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa captivated the audience with melodious saxophone codes that left one’s toes tingling.
Mariam Ndagire, Peter Miles and Menshan also performed.
VICTOR Daisy Nabagereka won the crowd over with her perfect 10 frame. To many, she was definitely going to bag the Miss Uganda crown, until she opened her mouth. Nothing came out. Nothing because what she said absolutely missed the target.
Asked where she would be five years down the road if she won the crown, Nabagereka confidently said she would make Uganda a better place. She did not say how. Probably because of their bias, the audience gave a thunderous applause.
After a hectic four-month search, the Miss Uganda 2007 contest ended on Saturday in a spectacular event at the Kampala Serena Hotel – thanks to MKM Promotions, the organisers of the event, uganda telecom, the sole sponsor and other contributors like Akright.
While the judges –– Radio One’s Maria Kiwanuka, Samalie Okoth and Akright’s Alex Kamukama and Lawrence Mugisha, among others, zeroed in on Monica Kansiime Kasyate as the crown winner, quite a few did not agree with the choice.
Tristan Winters, a hospitality consultant, believed that Kansiime got more airtime than the others.
“She was brought more to the front of the judges when the MC stood with her. I felt she wasn’t the one,†he said, adding, “There was a little bit of bias. Perhaps the stage was not big enough.â€
Ann Suubi, another member of the audience, shared Winters’ thoughts.
“It was fair up to some point but Miss Uganda came from nowhere. She did not make any moves that showed that she would be one of them,†she said.
At first, there were 29 contestants. Then the sharp axe cut the number to 15. Still, the judges had to remain with the cream. At the intellectual level, seven of the finalists answered questions from the pageant MC Mich Egwang.
The girls looked radiant as they did their catwalk before a full house. While they all exuded remarkable confidence in answering questions, some articulated themselves better, the reason 21-year-old Kasyate walked away with the crown, ending Praise Akankwasa’s two-year reign.
Asked what she would embark on in case she won the contest, the second-year Makerere University Industrial and Fine Art student won loud cheers when she said her priority would be partnering with the pageant organisers to help street children.
When announced winner, Kasyate was so overwhelmed that she staggered to the front. “I can’t believe it. I saw a winner in every contestant. Much as I knew I would be among the first three, I didn’t know I would beat them all. I am so excited,†she said after the contest.
A car, a cash prize of $3,000 (sh5m), a laptop from Computer Vision and a year’s worth of free health services at AAR await Kansiime. She also qualifies for a month’s tour in China this December, ahead of the Miss World contest, where she will represent Uganda.
First runner-up Hellene Kalungi mesmerised the crowd with details about the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be hosted in November.
She said that not only was it already benefiting Uganda in terms of structural developments, but also economically and socially.
The 24-year-old law graduate, who was also crowned Miss Popularity, will represent Uganda at the Miss Earth pageant in Manila, Philippines.
Sarah Kagole emerged second runner-up and was also voted Miss Talent for her dancing skills while Victor Daisy Nabagereka was Miss Swimsuit. Mary Kankyo Towali won Most Deserving Contestant.
Lillian Namulindwa and Winfred Mubiru were Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic, respectively.
Performances included Maisha dancers, Iryn Namubiru, who sang her latest hit Y’ono, before saxophonist Isaiah Katumwa captivated the audience with melodious saxophone codes that left one’s toes tingling.
Mariam Ndagire, Peter Miles and Menshan also performed.