Nabukonde Kiyayi Roukaya Crowned Miss Tourism Uganda 2023/24 in a Night of Glitz and Glamour

In a spectacular crowning event held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, 19-year-old Nabukonde Kiyayi Roukaya, hailing from Elgon in Eastern Uganda, was bestowed with the coveted title of Miss Tourism Uganda for the 2023/24 season. Nabukonde triumphed over 24 other finalists, each representing various sub-regions of Uganda, in a night filled with color and elegance.

Nabukonde assumes the role of Miss Tourism Uganda, succeeding Ms. Nabulya Sydney Kavuma, who held the title for the 2022/23 season. The top three positions also featured Ms. Alison Akello from Teso in Eastern Uganda as the first runner-up and Ms. Martha Apero from Karamoja in northeastern Uganda as the second runner-up.

The crowning event marked the culmination of an intensive period of activities and training that the contestants underwent over the past few months. This journey included a boot camp in Entebbe, where the queens received master-class training in various fields such as marketing, branding, tourism, hygiene, make-up, and insurance. Additionally, they embarked on enlightening familiarization tours to different tourism destinations across the country.

At the coronation ceremony, the queens showcased their talents in fashion, beauty, and intellect by responding to questions from a distinguished panel of judges.

Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, graced the event as the chief guest and commended the finalists for their exceptional beauty and knowledge, particularly in the realms of tourism and environmental conservation. The Minister also expressed gratitude to the organizers for preserving the legacy of the Miss Tourism Uganda project, originally established by the late former tourism minister Maria Mutagamba in 2013.

However, Hon. Baryomunsi voiced his disappointment regarding the absence of male participants in the competition. He shared his experience of regional contests where both Miss and Mr. Tourism were featured and suggested the inclusion of a “Mr. Tourism” category at the national level in future episodes.

State Minister for Tourism Martin Mugarra hailed the winner, Ms. Nabukonde, as well as the other contestants and organizers, for their commendable efforts. He underscored the importance of their initiative in reinforcing regional tourism clusters and showcasing Uganda’s rich cultural diversity.

In addition to the main title, several other category winners were celebrated at the event:

• Miss Tourism Wellness: Lilian Lissa
• Miss Tourism Congeniality: Sylvia Kasemire
• Miss Tourism Heritage: Joy Ariye
• Miss Tourism Photogenic: Restetuta Ayebare