|
Madinah Tebajjukira
THE Ministry of Ethics and Integrity is investigating the Miss Uganda contest to verify claims that it lacks transparency, promotes immorality and does not reflect Ugandan culture.
James Nsaba Buturo told Sunday Vision that he had received many complaints from the public, including some participants, who are not happy with the way the contest is conducted.
A Sunday Vision undercover reporter took part in the Miss Uganda 2009 contest, won by Maria Namiiro, a UK-based Ugandan who also holds the Miss Uganda UK title.
The contest was organised by UK-based Joyce Church, who also organises Miss Uganda-UK.
In a five-part series, our undercover reporter described how the eventual winner skipped the preliminaries and joined the race midway, when everybody thought she was one of the organisers.
Disorganisation, lack of funds, disagreement among the organisers, incompetent service providers, influence peddling and favouritism were some of the problems that dogged this year’s contest.
Our reporter also found that the organisers subjected the girls to inhuman treatment, like making them strip down to their underwear before a male trainer.
They would be packed like sardines when being transported from one place to another. They were made to share a bed with up to three people and were housed in places with no power or running water.
Buturo described the contest as a channel for transmitting immorality as well as a wastage of time and resources.
“The whole concept of Miss Uganda is rubbish and nonsense because it tends to presume that some people are more beautiful than others, yet before God, we are all equal, beautiful and handsome” Buturo said.
He added: “We shall undertake a study to ascertain whether it is something Uganda needs or it is a channel to promote immorality in our country, as alleged by some complainants.”
Buturo noted that poor young girls are promised a lot of things if they win but end up getting nothing while their future is jeopardised.
He said he would soon name a team to investigate the allegations and find out the real motives of the organisers.
“We cannot leave Ugandans at the mercy of every Tom, Dick and Harry,” he stressed.
Buturo appealed to anyone with information regarding the Miss Uganda contest to pass it on to his office.
Published on: Saturday, 21st November, 2009
|
