Brenda Nanyonjo and her team will be celebrating something really huge as Leah Kalanguka hands over her crown on 10th July at the Kampala Serena Hotel. And you most definitely must be witness to this historic event. Kezzi Entertainment, the franchise holder of Miss Uganda will be crowning their fifth beauty queen. No other franchise holder has managed to organize this event for five consecutive years.
Sylvia Owori who popularized this pageant, held this franchise for four year from 2001 to 2004. The fashion maven‘s time running Miss Uganda will never forgotten for her pompous and glamorous events; aggressive marketing skills with which she managed to have almost all the major corporate companies as sponsors and her beauty queens that walked away with lucrative endorsement deals.
Her beauty queens included Victoria Nabunya (2001), Rehema Nakuya (2002), Salma Nassanga (2003) and Barbara Kimbugwe (2004).
Sylvia’s departure left the pageant in a dire state since she had set the bar so high. The franchise holders that took the mantle from her did nothing but fill the news with controversies. Either the events were lackluster or the winners didn’t get their prizes. Solaya Zalwango who had two years with the franchise crowned two queens Monica Kasyate and Dora Mwima. Dora who has since become one of the most successful former winners of the crown later proclaimed that she never received any of her prizes and had also self funded her trip to Miss World.
The franchise was later taken over by Joyce Church and her husband but unfortunately she failed to save Miss Uganda. Hers is by far the most controversial time of the pageant. Her winners included Maria Namiro and Heyzme Nansubuga. The latter’s crowning was a total disaster as Mrs. Church and her team instead of announcing a one Aisha Nagudi who the judges had chosen, announced and crowned Heyzme. Little is known of what became of her after that evening.
In 2011, Kezzi Entertainment owned by Brenda Nanyonjo took over and literally saved the pageant. The beautiful Sylvia Namutebi was her first winner. With her, returned the pomp and glamor the pageant had in the past been known for. She walked away with a brand new Toyota Spacio and performed excellently at Miss World. Phiona Bizzu took over the crown in 2012. Stella Nantumbwe was announced winner in 2013 at by the far the most pompous event since Sylvia’s days.
Last year, Kezzi took on a new theme that was not typical of beauty pageants – Agriculture and entrepreneurship. Leah Kalanguka was crowned but her crowning was a ground breaking one. She trended on social media all over the world for a number of weeks, attracting media attention from top media outlets such as DailyMailOnline.
Whilst her reign has been a really short one, Kezzi will be making history as she hands over her crown to a new beauty queen in July. The theme of agriculture and entrepreneurship has been taken on for the second year. During the press launch which was held on Friday (22nd, May 2015), Brenda couldn’t hide her excitement. “We’ve come so far with Beauty with a purpose and are very excited to be celebrating 5 years,” she beamed.
Kezzi Entertainment together with Mirinda, Galaxy FM, Kampala Serena Hotel, Samona and Duke Water have already kicked off the search for Miss Uganda 2015. Entry forms are available at the Miss Uganda offices. Young ladies of age 18 to 24 are called upon to audition and be part of this iconic event.
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