Uganda’s new tourism strategy focuses on ‘naturally endowed women’

The state minister for tourism launched a beauty pageant called ‘Miss Curvy Uganda’

Uganda has launched a beauty pageant for curvy women (Miss Curvy Uganda)

Uganda has unveiled a new tourism strategy that focuses on promoting its “naturally endowed nice-looking women”.

It comes as the country’s state minister for tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda, launched a beauty pageant called “Miss Curvy Uganda” to promote tourism to Uganda.

The pageant was part of Uganda’s Tulambule tourism initiative, designed to showcase the attractions the country has to offer.

Curvy women have now been added to a list of tourism attractions that run from spectacular wildlife to national parks.

The beauty pageant launch featured women posing poolside with the tourism minister in capital Kampala.

“We have naturally endowed nice-looking women that are amazing to look at. Why don’t we use these people as a strategy to promote our tourism industry?” Kiwanda was quoted as saying in The East African newspaper. He added that the Miss Curvy pageant offered an alternative view to the typical slim entrants.

Miss Curvy Uganda is open to those aged 18 to 35, said organisers.

According to local media, Ann Mungoma, the organiser of Miss Curvy Uganda, said that the pageant would enhance the visibility and appreciation of Ugandan people.

“Miss Curvy is an event that will bring out the endowment of the real African woman.

“It is an exceptional event that will see young ladies showcase their beautiful curves and intellect,” she said.

A mission statement on the website states: “Uganda is dubbed as being gifted by nature. This is not only exhibited by the abundance of natural resources, but it also extends to the people of Uganda.

“For the first time in Uganda, women who are proud of the way they look have a reason to smile as a new beauty pageant which celebrates true African beauty has come into existence. Dubbed ‘Miss Curvy Uganda’, the event organised to recognize and acknowledge the big, bold and beautiful plus size Ugandan ladies.”

The pageant has been widely criticised. Ugandan activist Primrose Nyonyozi Murungi has called for the government to call off the contest.

In a Facebook post, she wrote: “It’s 2019 ladies and gentlemen. And a whole board of tourism sat down, discussed and decided to actually pass something like this. Those were men and women with daughters at home.”

It’s not known when the pageant will take place.