Acayo wins Miss Uganda 2013 northern contest

By Kalungi Kabuye

Neither the wind nor the rain could dampen the bright smile of 23-year-old Judith Acayo, winner of the 2013 Miss Uganda Northern Regional Finals which was held on Sunday at the St. Lira Hotel, Lira.

The pageant had to be postponed from Saturday night Sunday during the day because of rain.

“It was my confidence and sincerity that made me win,” Acayo, who hails from Gulu, told the press. “I do not believe in losing and I believe my chances in the final is high.”

Acayo, whose mother is a civil servant and father is a businessman, works with the Mpigi-based House of Shalom Foundation which takes care of homeless children. Caroline Arionget, 22, also from Gulu, was first runner-up while Comfort Munduru was second runner-up.

Twenty girls from across the region took part in what was the first of four regional finals, with the next to be held in Mbarara on May 18.

The top seven from the northern final will also have another chance in the Kampala regional finals where they will face off with other contestants.

This was the first time that a Miss Uganda regional final has been rained out (they are always held in the open air) since the pageant was restarted in 2001. It has often rained, but has always cleared in time for the pageant to continue, not this time though, which meant it was held in the hot midday sun.

Apart from the rain, which was an act of God, the organisers need to step up and so do the production guys, Fenon, who cannot figure out lights needed for a beauty pageant.

First, there was no list of the contestants and their profiles, which should have been given to the media. They had to chase the co-master of ceremony, a one Gloria, who was supposed to have it, but gave them a royal run-around.

Then the mandatory after event press conference with the winners was not there, and the press had to run after the girls for interviews.