The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali has blasted Tourism Minister Godfrey Kiwanda over the introduction of the Miss Curvy initiative to promote Ugandan’s tourism.
On Tuesday, State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda unveiled an initiative in which curvy and sexy Ugandan women will now be listed as some of the items to attract tourists to the Pearl of Africa a move that has attracted a backlash.
Archbishop Ntagali has joined the list of people to blast the minister over the initiative.
“It is a disgusting display of exploitation and brings shame upon our families and our country. The government is promoting trafficking to increase tourism,”Ntagali said in a statement.
The man of God said the initiative undermines the dignity of women despite efforts by a number of stakeholders including the church to advance the girl-child education and opportunities for women to take part in contributing to the development of the country.
“We condemn the proposed Miss Curvy Uganda beauty pageant and urge the sponsors and partners to cancel it. To present such a program is to demonstrate how low we have fallen as a country. We cannot accept it and we insist that it should be cancelled.”
The Minister of Ethics and Integrity Fr Simon Lokodo had earlier advised his fellow Minister for to concentrate on the many tourist attractions that the ministry has not even utilised rather than jump onto ‘scandalising’ the nation by using women.
“There is no pride on behalf of Uganda for someone to leave Australia to see a curvy woman. I am glad that women and other Ugandans are actually already condemning this. I have no words for such an event,” Lokodo remarked.
A number women activists have also blasted the minister over the initiative.
