Miss Tourism Uganda raises stakes with luxury home for next Queen

What the report says

Miss Tourism Uganda has announced a new prize for its next winner: a fully furnished, rent-free house for the duration of her reign. According to Sqoop Uganda, the accommodation will be located at Villa Vellar Estate in Bwebajja along Entebbe Road and is intended to give the 2026 queen a stable base while she carries out her duties as a tourism ambassador.

The pageant organisers said the housing package is meant to elevate the competition and better support the titleholder, who is expected to promote Uganda’s cultural and natural heritage through travel, public engagements and tourism marketing work. The winner is also expected to take part in brand partnerships, conservation messaging and cultural preservation initiatives.

Sqoop Uganda reported that the announcement comes as regional contests conclude and national finalists prepare for the grand finale scheduled for September 4 at Kampala Serena Hotel. This year’s contest is being staged under the theme “AI, Culture and Tourism,” reflecting the organisers’ view that digital tools can help market Uganda while still centring culture and heritage.

More broadly, the move signals how pageants in Uganda are being positioned as platforms for training young women as tourism advocates rather than only celebrating appearance. The new housing benefit appears designed to professionalise the role and make the crown more attractive to contestants.