On a chilly sad night at Lake View hotel Mbarara, Sheila Kirabo was crowned Miss Tourism-Ankole.
Alongside Jaylor Birungi and Samantha Nayesiga, who emerged first and second runner-up respectively, Kirabo will be this year’s tourism ambassadors for the region.
They head to boot camp later this year with the hope of representing Ankole at the finale and eventually taking home the final prize and the title of Miss Tourism 2015/16.
The mood was not exactly a happy one even though patrons and organiers tried not to mention or show it. Earlier in the day, a vehicle heading to the same event had gotten involved in an accident.
Resty Namawejje, a producer at NTV; Norah Atim, Miss Tourism Northern Uganda; and 2nd runner- up Miss Tourism 2014/15 died on the spot. Barbra Nakiwolo, 1st runner-up for the Buganda cluster died moments later.
Guests spoke in murmurs and some could not hold back their tears.The three girls died in a road accident in Mpigi on Kampala-Mbarara highway as they were travelling to grace the event at Lake View Resort Hotel in Mbarara.
“We have got a problem, I will not talk about it now because it is very sad,” Ms Stella Rugunda, the head of Miss Tourism Ankole cluster, said during the event.
At around 12am, Grace Aulo Mbabazi, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Tourism, who represented Minister Maria Mutagamba, asked the gathering to stand up and observe a moment of silence in honour of the deceased.
The search went on as planned. More than 100 people turned up for the event. Nine girls participated in the contest.
Sheila Kirabo, 23, a sales and marketing executive at Ex-Caliber under Mukwano Group of Companies, was crowned Miss Tourism Ankole 2015/16. She replaces Jackline Arinda. Jaylor Birungi, 22, a student at Makerere University, was first runner up while Samantha Nayesiga, 20, a senior six leaver, emerged third.
Ms Mbabazi asked the beauty queens to create awareness about tourist attractions in their region and the entire country.
Nakiwolo and Namawejje were laid to rest yesterday in Seeta and Abaita-Ababiri respectively. Other occupants are still hospitalised.
That explains why the event, which was almost cancelled, started late. The action started towards 9pm. The hosts, Sophie Amayo and radio presenter Noella, ushered in the nine finalists vying for the crown onto the stage kicking off the night with some dance moves.
The creative wear session showed that the contestants took time to obtain local products like sisal, bark cloth to make the pieces. Masiela Fashion House designed the dresses made mainly out of African fabric and the judges got a glimpse of the contestants’ evening wear look.
Sheila Kirabo later won the talent category with her flexible and fitness skills in a category characterised by dance and poetry. The event ended with the crowning ceremony at 1am.
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