State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi has been sued in court over Miss Curvy Beauty Pageant by a Ugandan citizen Gideon Tugume.
Minister Kiwanda was dragged to court alongside Anne Mungoma, the event organiser.
Mr. Tugume wants the Chief Magistrates Court in Kampala to direct the sued parties not to hold the intended pageant anywhere in Uganda.
He also prays that court declare that Miss Curvy event is discriminative, degrading and shameful to the country’s culture and heritage.
He says the defendants should be personally charged under section 160 (a), (b), 32 and 148 of the Penal Code Act CAP 120 as well as an order for apology by Kiwanda to the nation through the media.
“The plaintiff’s cause of action against the defendants arose as follows (a) that on 5th day of February 2019, the defendants together with others mobilised women and girls and addressed the media of the intention to hold Miss Curvy (the contest of buttocks) in Uganda in the month of June, 2019 against Uganda’s culture of women respect, laws and dignity.” He argues that currently there’s no law and guidelines under which such event of Miss Curvy competitions can be held,” lawsuit reads in part.
Kiwanda has refuted media reports that he is promoting the campaign aimed at using curvy women as a tourist attraction. He says his participation at the launch of the contest was to support a beauty standard which is in line with the country’s native cultural preferences and not using curvy women as tourist attractions.
Majority MPs yesterday supported Kiwanda, saying he was working to promote Uganda’s tourism industry by showcasing the beauty and shapes of Ugandan fat women.