Lourine Adyero, a student from Uganda Christian University (UCU), has raised serious allegations against the organizers of the Miss Uganda beauty pageant, accusing them of discrimination and favoritism. The 23-year-old contestant claims that participants from well-off families were given preferential treatment, sidelining those from more modest backgrounds.
Adyero recounted her experiences during the competition, stating, “The way they were favoring someone’s parent, we all saw that and we were like, hmm.” She further highlighted financial burdens imposed on contestants, citing an instance where they were required to pay UGX 1,700,000 for a trip to Mombasa. This expense was unexpected, as it had been announced that Uganda Airlines would sponsor the entire trip. Adyero also revealed that the contestants faced food shortages, saying, “We never ate; we starved.”
In response to these allegations, Brenda Nanyonjo, the CEO of the Miss Uganda Foundation, addressed the issue, stating that such grievances are not uncommon in beauty pageants. She suggested that Adyero’s dissatisfaction might stem from her elimination from the competition, which was based on not receiving enough votes. Nanyonjo emphasized that the pageant does not engage in favoritism.
These allegations have sparked a conversation about the fairness and transparency of beauty pageants in Uganda, with many calling for more accountability from the organizers. As the debate continues, the Miss Uganda Foundation maintains that the competition is conducted fairly and that all contestants are treated equally.
