The Buganda Kingdom Minister of Information, Mobilization and Official Kingdom Spokesperson, Israel Kazibwe Kitooke, has said that the Miss Tourism Buganda (Nnalulungi w’Ebyobulambizi) competition is not solely about physical beauty but also seeks knowledgeable, intelligent and culturally grounded ambassadors who can promote Buganda’s tourism heritage.
Kazibwe made the remarks while officiating at the unveiling of the Miss Tourism Buganda 2026 contestants on behalf of the who represented the Buganda Kingdom Minister of Heritage, Palaces, Tombs, Tourism and Security, Anthony Wamala during a ceremony that also marked the beginning of the contestants' official boot camp.
Through its tourism department, the Buganda Kingdom annually selects young women from the various counties of Buganda to represent their respective counties in the Miss Tourism Buganda competition.
The initiative seeks to identify outstanding contestants who will become ambassadors for the promotion of Buganda’s tourism.
Addressing the contestants, Kazibwe urged them to dedicate themselves to learning Buganda’s customs, traditions and history so they can represent the Kingdom from a position of knowledge and understanding.
“Being Miss Tourism is not only about physical beauty. It is about much more than appearance. You must be intelligent, knowledgeable and well informed. You should be able to answer questions confidently, and it is also important to know practical life skills such as cooking. These are important values that you should embrace,” he said.
Kazibwe further encouraged the contestants to make use of the Buganda Kingdom’s historical resources and familiarise themselves with its tourism attractions.
“The Kingdom has a rich and extensive history. Our library at the tourism department contains books that explain the origins and history of Buganda. We also have numerous tourism attractions, including Kabaka’s Lake. You need to understand all these historical sites because we want you to speak about our heritage, increase its visibility and create more opportunities,” he said.
The Chairperson of the Council of Clan Heads (Olukiiko lw’Abataka), Omutaka Augustine Kizito Mutumba Namwama, congratulated the contestants for reaching this stage of the competition and encouraged them not to stop there but to strive to compete on the international stage. He also thanked the parents of the contestants for raising and supporting them throughout the process.
“We encourage you to take pride in your culture because it is the culture in which God created you. God also gave us our Luganda language, and we should cherish it. As Miss Tourism contestants, you have a responsibility to help promote our culture by upholding Buganda’s customs and traditions,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board, Najibu Nsubuga, said the selection exercise was conducted through several stages, with particular emphasis placed on institutions of higher learning, especially those belonging to the Kingdom.
He confirmed that the contestants selected for this year's competition successfully passed a rigorous screening process to ensure only candidates who met the required standards advanced.
The Chief Executive Officer of New Destiny Property Services, Peter Muwanguzi, who is the main sponsor of this year's competition, commended the Buganda Kingdom for establishing the initiative. He said his decision to support the programme was driven by a desire to contribute to the promotion of Uganda’s tourism sector.
Muwanguzi also announced that this year's winner will receive a land title, adding that the land has already been surveyed and is awaiting its rightful owner after the competition.
Following the unveiling ceremony, the contestants entered boot camp, where they will spend more than two weeks undergoing training and mentorship in various areas to prepare them for the competition.
The official launch was held at the offices of the Buganda Heritage and Tourism Board and was attended by the First Deputy to the Kingdom Treasurer, Moses Tusuubira Nyombi, heads of Buganda Kingdom institutions, former Miss Tourism Buganda queens, the 2026 contestants and many other invited guests.
