Organisers unveil some of the Miss Tourism Uganda finalists on Friday. Photo/Isaac SSejjombwe
By this time last year, 19-year-old Ruokaya Nabukonde from the Eastern region was announced as a finalist in last year’s Miss Tourism. She had no idea that she would later be crowned Miss Tourism at a grand finale in September last year at Kampala Serena Hotel Victoria hall, the same venue that will host this year’s grand finale on September 14.
This is going to mark the end of Nabukonde’s reign as Miss Tourism as a new beauty queen will be crowned out of the top 20 contestants who will be selected for the grand finale.
Before that, last Friday evening saw the 29 contestants being unveiled as finalists during the unveiling night at Serena Hotel.
The organizers of the pageant chose the top three from each region who won in the each regional including Kigezi, Karamoja, Teso, Tooro, Ankole and Buganda among others.
From here, the contestants are heading to the boot camp at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre where they will be taken through various classes such as tourism, personal branding, health and beauty marketing, communication skills, catwalk posture, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills among others, this in preparation for the grand finale.
After a week, the number will be dropped to the top 20 who will then advance as Miss Tourism Uganda 2024 finalists.
Themed ‘Tourism and Peace’ which underscores UN Tourism’s 2024 theme was aimed at reminding the world about the importance of peace and tourism and the eventual winner will be driving away with a new car as a grand prize.
However, there will also be other winners in different categories including Miss Tourism Wellness, Miss Tourism Congeniality, Miss Tourism Heritage, Miss Tourism Photogenic among others.
This year’s Miss Tourism was launched in March by the State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra Bahinduka at Sheraton Kampala Hotel