I was misquoted on Miss Curvy pageant- Kiwanda tells parliament

The State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda has defended the controversial Miss Curvy pageant saying he was misquoted by the media over it.

Budaka district woman MP, Pamela Kamugo early this week moved parliament to summon the minister to shade more light on the pageant that is alleged to be demeaning to women.

On Wednesday, Kiwanda told parliament that he never meant to demean women when he introduced the Miss Curvy competition.

“When I said that curvy women will attract tourists, all I meant was tourism begins with the people. I didn't mean that I will parade women as I was misquoted by the press. Just like other activities and pageants, this pageant will also attract tourists,” Kiwanda told the August House.

He said that just like any other beauty pageant, the Miss Curvy competition is meant to appreciate Uganda’s beauty adding that previous pageants have focused only on skinny women.

Dokolo District Women MP Cecilia Ogwal tasked Kiwanda to apologise for organizing the Miss Curvy competition that demeans women.

However, in response, Kiwanda said the competition has not been organized by the Ministry of Tourism but rather by Ugandans licensed like those the organisers of the Miss Uganda beauty Pageant.

Kanungu Woman MP, Elizabeth Karungi however defended Kiwanda saying that the controversial Miss Curvy competition will help promote African beauty other than the other pageants that are based on western culture.

“I want to encourage Kiwanda to go ahead with this pageant because there are people who appreciate fat and curvy women,”Karungi said.

Since the unveiling of the Miss Curvy competition, Kiwanda has received criticism especially from women activists.