PICTORIAL: Ronah Kisakye redefining the meaning of a crown

What the report says

Ronah Vivian Kisakye, who was first runner-up in Miss Tourism Busoga 2015, is seeking to broaden the role of beauty pageantry in Uganda by turning it into a platform for leadership, entrepreneurship and service. Sqoop Uganda reports that she recently launched Queens Affair 2026 at Kampala Serena Hotel as an empowerment initiative aimed at helping women move from pageants into professional, creative and business careers.

The inaugural event was held under the theme “Beyond the Crown: Women Thriving in Professional, Creative and Business Spaces.” It brought together beauty queens from across Uganda, as well as entrepreneurs, corporate figures, creatives and other professionals. According to the report, the program featured networking sessions, panel discussions, recognition awards and the unveiling of the Empower Her Initiative, a mentorship effort meant to support young girls and aspiring beauty queens.

Sqoop Uganda says the gathering also included regional and institutional voices, among them Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Ababu Namwamba, and Irene T. Kauma, permanent secretary in the Office of the First Lady and Ministry of Education and Sports. Leadership coach and entrepreneur Manuela P. Mulondo also addressed participants. Their remarks reinforced the event’s focus on purpose-driven leadership and using visibility from pageantry to build lasting influence.

Kisakye says Queens Affair is intended to grow beyond a single event into a year-round platform offering mentorship, business masterclasses, leadership forums and branding workshops. The initiative reflects a wider shift in pageantry, where advocates increasingly link crowns with advocacy and social impact rather than only competition and appearance.