Meet the reigning Miss Uganda

My goodness! Getting Zahara Muhammed Nakiyaga, the newly crowned Miss Uganda for a one-on-one meeting, was no easy task.

My pursuit to meet her started on Monday morning, two days after her crowning. She replaced Leah Kalanguka as Miss Uganda at a finale that was held last Friday.
Normally, the policy is that when a new girl is crowned, the Miss Uganda Foundation immediately takes charge of her.

Therefore, in order to get to her, one has to go through the organisers, which I did. Janat Nalugya, the project coordinator, Miss Uganda Foundation, was kind enough to give me Nakiyaga’s phone number.
I called it several times but the calls went unanswered. My messages were not replied as well. Attempts to get to her through her brother were also futile. The pageant coordinator got me another number to try.

When I called the particular number, a lady with a deep clear voice picked up. I asked if I could speak to Zahara and the response was that she was the one.

“Finally!” I thought. Once I got to speak to her, everything else just fell in place. She directed me to their family home in Nabweru, a suburb of Kampala where she currently stays.
Nakiyaga was receptive, warm, spoke gracefully and kept flashing her infectious smile. She wore light makeup and a green patterned dress. She led the way through their family living room, which was neatly organised to the dining room where we sat.

She apologised for the trouble getting in touch with her, and then we got into the thick of the interview.

Finding her way to the crown
Nakiyaga’s quest for the throne was in search of a bigger platform to work with different non-government organisations to serve the community.

Besides, she had completed school and did not find any harm in trying her luck in the pageant. She joined the pageant by auditioning for Miss Uganda Central where she emerged as winner, automatically qualifying for the finals.
Nakiyaga confesses it was difficult to know who would win since the other 21 finalists were each special in their own way. “We had earlier been told by our trainers to expect anything.

I was, therefore, prepared for any outcome that night,” she says. The 23-year-old says it only sank in that she was winner after all her three names had been read out.

“I think the announcement just made me confused,” she says laughing. “I did not know what to do except smile and wave.” Juliana Nabwowe, who emerged as first runner-up and also won Miss Personality, is the girl Nakiyaga expected to win.

“I remember all of us being in the top five and I thought she was really so close to winning. Besides, she answered all her questions correctly.”

Judging from the crowd’s cheers, however, Nakiyaga seemed to have won over the majority of the audience. She also answered the two questions –how she would use social media positively, and to explain GMOs - put to her confidently.

Her answers; “I’m ever on social media and I would use it to sensitise the youth and the whole public at large about the different projects I want to do to promote rural development.”
“GMOs are Genetically Modified Organisms made from joining tissue and DNAs of plants to produce more resistant and long lasting crops.”

Life at boot camp
At the three weeks boot camp they had before the finale, not only were the girls trained on life skills but also received agricultural training from Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute located in Wakiso district since the pageant revolved around theme “Promoting Agricultural Entrepreneurship among the youth.”

GMOs could be among the things she picked up during her three at the boot camp with fellow contestants.

“I learnt so many things including the benefits of modern agriculture, which I want to pass on to other youth during my reign,” she says.

Nakiyaga says she also returned from the camp better at communication and self-presentation. When the going got tough during those three weeks, a phone call to relatives encouraged and strengthened her.

When official duties will kick off
No doubt, Nakiyaga is still figuring out how her life will be in the spotlight. “I do not know what to expect yet but I’m prepared for anything.” She took time off this week to rest after an exhausting weekend during which friends and other family members kept visiting to congratulate her.

“I remember coming home and finding people here waiting to applaud me for my newfound status.

It was such a humbling experience and I will never forget that,” she says. She expects to begin her Miss Uganda official duties next week.

About participating in the pageant during Ramadhan, she says; “I expected all sorts of reactions but again, I expected people to also understand. I still love and respect my religion.”
Her mother, Mariam Nabirye, adds; “It was only a pageant and a one-time event. I understand why she had to dress in a certain way.”