When the President’s younger brother Gen. Salim Saleh came out and announced that the army would partner with Miss Uganda organisers to boost agriculture, many thought it was idle talk. But those who know Gen. Saleh told us that he is an executioner, and indeed he has proved himself to be just that. On Monday, the Miss Uganda beauty pageant was launched at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Unlike past beauty pageants, this year’s Miss Uganda will run in partnership with the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), an army segment commanded by Gen Saleh that roots to boost agriculture in the country.
The new partnership will see this year’s Miss Uganda run on a sub-theme, “Promoting agriculture entrepreneurship for young women between ages 18-25 years.”
Speaking at the launch, the Miss Uganda Foundation CEO, Brenda Nanyonjo, called upon young girls to erase the thought that life is all about swag and glamour, “you need to also engage in agriculture instead of starting salons and boutiques, which are short-lived businesses,” Nanyonjo said.
Brenda sighted examples of reigning Miss North, Judith who has a poultry farm with 288 birds and Miss Talent, Fiona, who has a two-acre vegetable farm where she grows cabbages, eggplants and herbs.
Nanyonjo announced that this year’s Miss Uganda competitors will attend camps at Namukekera Rural Industrial Centre, Kapeeka and tForest Park Resort Muloba to acquire agricultural skills!” The aim of this initiative is to ensure Miss Uganda is aligned with the agrarian economy that Uganda is. And just like UPDF that is already producing mango juice and potato flour, the initiative will see Miss Uganda acquire it’s own agricultural demonstration farm in due course.