Uganda Friday crowned its new beauty queen at a glamorous event held at Serena Hotel Kampala. Revellers started arriving at the venue by 6pm, the scheduled time at which the event was to begin.

And as it has been the case for the past five years, they were treated to free drinks by the pageant’s sponsor, Crown Beverages Limited under their Mirinda soda brand.

But just like last year, the event started a bit late with only 30 minutes left to 10pm, and frustration had began to build up among the audience. It kicked off with the national anthem and was followed by all the 21 contestants taking to the stage.

Regional winners were selected and by the end of the selection, Zahara Nakiyaga Muhammed was crowned Miss central, Bridget Sanyu – miss East and Diana Nabimanya – Miss West. Next to follow were special category crowns.

These saw Aish Nabukeera crowned as winner of rising woman category, Engrid Wanyana – Miss Talent, Juliana Nabwowe – Miss Personality, Miss Noeline Naava – congeniality, Miss Photogenic – Loice Namara.

Dimit Nakayaga managed to beat the online mighty of Nabukeera and her family; the Gashumbas to win the people’s choice category, after garnering the majority votes against her competitors.

The block was reduced to only 10 contestants but this was minutes later reduced to five thanks to the questions that were asked to the contestants.

Ingrid Wanyana emerged Second runners-up, Juliana Nabwowe emerged first runners-up while the biggest crown of the day was won by Zahara Nakiyaga Muhammed. She is the new Miss Uganda 2015-16.

She said that she is to use her car prize to execute her projects.

Meanwhile, the event was graced by notables among who included Amama Mbabazi’s lawyer, Fred Muwema, Godfrey Kirumira, Frank Gashumba, legendary Kenyan band; Swahili nation and Eddy Kenzo.

There were also musical performances from Apass and Grace Nakimera.

The minister for Tourism in Uganda Hon, Uganda’s Minister for Tourism, has launched a new media unit to tackle challenges and wrong perceptions about Uganda. The media unit aimed will aim at putting positive messages about tourism, culture, and related topics into the public domain.

The so-called Tourism Communications Working Group will be headed by the Ministry’s Head of PR, Mrs. Emma Mugizi, who will be assisted by a further six regular members drawn from across the ministry’s various departments and agencies under its supervision.

From Minister to Permanent Secretary to the head of the working group, the message was unanimous that it was important to provide facts and figures to the global media and promote good news about Uganda’s tourism attractions, parks, and society events.

Uganda in the past often failed to respond adequately and promptly when negative news emerged on international television channels, in newspapers, and magazines. The country that has seen peace for over 25 years now is still having a big problem in marketing its tourism products and the problem is largely the “bad image’ of its past. It is not surprising when you ask about Uganda; many will get the images of the past brutal leader “Idi Amin” killings of Joseph Kony, arsonists and such terrible incidents! The image of the country is a very important factor in the development of tourism and therefore the establishment of such campaigns is an important step in promoting the country.

It is hoped that the new media unit will finally be able to put push more positive information that will work upon creating rather a positive image for the country. The media unit will as well engage with global, regional, and local media organizations and key media individuals so that positive and clear images about Uganda as a destination will be directed into the public domain including TVs, radios, newspapers etc. Deliberate networking with the media in fact must include those using the new age channels like social media and blogs, to create an overall better picture of the country abroad by tapping into all available resources.

Minister Mutagamba called the launch a step into the right direction that will improve the marketability of Uganda as a destination. Uganda is one of the most beautiful places on Africa – an upcoming destination on the African continent. It is the number one spot for gorilla tours, wild adventures where tourists hike within the impenetrable forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Park to see the endangered mountain gorillas! Other rewarding experiences in the country include big five game viewing, mountain trekking, white water rafting, primates watching and more.

Tourists to Uganda have been shocked on arrival at the Entebbe International Airport (EBB) by the doubled fees charged for visas that have been hiked from US$50 to US$100.

Though most Ugandan High Commissions and Embassies are unaware of the changes, many tourists have been shocked on arrival on finding that this beautiful country in Eastern Africa has increased the fees. Up to today many embassy websites and travel guides still show the fee of US$50 per person, yet on arrival the tourists are asked to pay US$100.

Uganda is one of the upcoming destinations on the African continent attracting many adventure seeking tourists interested in taking gorilla safaris and chimpanzee watching. The country is arguably the best place to see primates that include the rare and endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga National Park, chimpanzees that live in Kibale forest and several other tropical rain forests, golden monkeys in Mgahinga and more. The country is also home to the most known Source of the Nile “discovered” by John Speke of the Royal Geographical Society ending the quest by many European Explorers who were traveling to Africa during those days to find the source of the world’s second longest river.

Travelers to Uganda can also take advantage of buying an East African tourist visa that permits them entry to Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. The visa costs US$100 and this visa is available on arrival in any of the three countries.

The increment in visa fees to Uganda has raised mixed reactions with many tour operators in the country calling off the authorities to look into the issue and revise what seems to be very high fees. According to one of the tour operators Uganda is not doing well in tourist arrivals if compared with the last 5 years, partly due to that the country is expensive if compared with other destinations like Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and more.

Therefore an increment in visa fees makes the country more expensive – adding more fees on the 18% VAT that was introduced on hotels and safari lodges, raised gorilla permits fees from USD500 to USD600. Therefore the government needs to come up with better and revised policies that will make the country affordable to all kinds of tourists including budget travellers and backpackers.

Pastor Aloysius Bugingo, the senior pastor of House of Prayers Ministries International is boiling over with fury after his fond daughter eloped with a man subscribing to the Catholic faith.

“I came to learn of the relationship via love notes Doreen was writing to that evil man. He would post the lovely notes on her Facebook page and the crook would reply,” Bugingo lamented.

Bugingo gushed out his anger publicly. He was ministering to his flock at Bat Valley when he let off the lid of his child’s romance.

The rants were relayed on his Salt FM Radio. Bugingo said he wanted his first born daughter to be a pacesetter for his siblings.

So infuriated Bugingo became that he even suggested that the girl can end up dying together with the baby she is carrying.

“What will that man do in case my daughter dies while giving birth? Will he deliver the dead body to me? Wherever you are Doreen, you chose your own fate. Never ever blame anyone in future,” Bugingo cursed.

While exposing the nitty-gritty of his daughter’s romance, the man-of-God identified man who eloped with his daughter as Emma Nkurunzizza.

“That man claims to be a doctor. Yet he is a conman. Can he ever be able to afford giving my daughter what I was giving her?” Bugingo quarreled.

Though Bugingo rants can be excused as coming from a parent eager to protect her child from unpredictable men, it is also true that the pastor has a deep seated hatred for Catholics and their faith.

In his rants, Bugingo is clearly heard expressing his untold uneasiness in regard to Doreen’s choice of a Catholic man to be his lover.

“How can she elope with a man of the catholic faith? It should have been a pauper; I would have excused it. But for a Catholic to elope with my daughter!” Bugingo agonized.

Bugingo started off his rants by narrating the super love he has for his daughter. He told of how he deliberately chose to stay in “Muzigo” in the slums of Bwaise in order to be able to save money for Doreen’s’ ‘wonderful’ primary education.

When Doreen passed PLE with aggregate 5, Bugingo said he made sure that she enrolled at the elite King’s College Buddo.

“She obtained 23 points. I wanted her to study medicine, but her wish was Telecommunications Engineering and I let her be,” Bugingo said.

Since the girl landed free government education, Bugingo revealed that he used the money he would have spent on Doreen’s tuition, to shop a car for her. He said he did this to express the love he has for the girl.

He also agonized about how he used to buy expensive wear for the girl and take to the beach besides such luxury she wanted.

Regardless of the love, Bugingo said, the girl had her heart elsewhere. She has since eloped with a man who happens not to be his dad’s choice.

“Can you imagine it? That evil girl refused even to work at my media empire. She told me she will find herself a job,” Bugingo lamented. Wait for juicy bits of the candid letter which Doreen wrote to her mum justifying her decision.