Tour operators call for minister Kiwanda's resignation

The Association of Uganda Tour Operators have come out to add their voice to controversey surrounding the Miss Curvy Competition.

Addressing the media at their head office in Nakawa, the officials said the suggestion of a competition for "endowed" women by Godfrey Kiwanda, the minister of state for Tourism, should be condemned by all right thinking people.

The association's chairman, Everest Kayondo, noted that this strategy cannot promote tourism but rather demeans women.

They called on the minister to resign.

"When you compare with what Kiwanda said and what he has been launching like the rolex, he needs to resign. Uganda has many tourist attractions but he is concentrating on women's hips and curves forgetting that this is not a tourism attraction," Kayondo said.

The association said the minister should change his ideas and focus on number of products in Uganda that are marketable in regards to tourism.

Currently over 190 women have registered to take part in the Miss Curvy Uganda competition.

However Kiwanda has since said that his message was deliberately distorted. He said that he never referred to women in a way that objectifies them rather he meant that there is a story behind the curves of the various women.