Ambassador Ababu Namwamba Rallies Miss Tourism East Africa Delegates to Promote Region’s Hidden Gems

What the report says

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ambassador Ababu Tawfiq Pius Namwamba, met the Miss Tourism East Africa delegation in Kampala and urged them to use the pageant as more than a beauty contest. According to Watchdog Uganda, he framed the event as a chance for young women from the region to help present East Africa’s tourism story to wider audiences and to highlight destinations that are often overlooked.

The delegates were in Kampala for the inaugural Miss Tourism East Africa grand finale at the Kampala Marriott Hotel. Namwamba encouraged them to become strong advocates for the region’s travel assets, emphasizing that East Africa already has major attractions but needs better storytelling and visibility. The report said he pointed to Uganda’s lakes and other natural and cultural sites as examples of places that deserve more promotion.

The article also placed Namwamba’s remarks in the context of his diplomatic and public-service background, noting his past roles in Kenya and his current post in Uganda. Watchdog Uganda said the message reflected a broader view that tourism can support soft power, cross-border travel and local economic activity by connecting visitors to hotels, transport, small businesses and cultural experiences across the region.

More broadly, the piece presented the pageant as a regional platform for tourism promotion, with contestants expected to act as cultural ambassadors rather than rely only on appearance or title.