The Archbishop of Church of Uganda, the Most Rev Stanley Ntagali, has condemned the proposed Miss Curvy Uganda beauty pageant that was recently launched by the state minister of tourism Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi.
On Tuesday, Junior Minister of Tourism, Kiwanda launched Miss Curvy Uganda beauty pageant aimed at using Ugandan curvaceous women as a tourism product. The strategy has however attracted criticisms from various sects of society.
According a statement released by the head of the Anglican Church, the tourism marketing strategy undermines the dignity of women and all of what the church has worked for to advance girl-child education and opportunities for women to take their part in contributing fully to their national and family development.
“It is a disgusting display of exploitation and brings shame upon our families and our country. The government is promoting trafficking to increase tourism,” he wrote.
The Archbishop implored sponsors and partners to cancel it saying that, present such a programme is to demonstrate how low Uganda have fallen as a country. “We cannot accept it and we insist that it be cancelled.”
Yesterday, Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), an advocacy and lobbying network of national women’s NGO’s called on Mr. Kiwanda to discard the strategy saying the move undermines women’s dignity.
According to minister, the Miss Curvy Uganda beauty pageant has been misinterpreted. He said it is like Miss Uganda pageant that recognizes slender and slim women and Ugandans have always been happy and voting for their favorite participants.
“Tourism starts with people. Uganda is beyond just animals, its people are the biggest tourism product. That’s why we have been voted several times as happiest people in the world and most hospitable,” Minister Kiwanda said when contacted by this website.