Yemi Alade almost introduced herself to the world by a completely different name.
Before becoming one of Africa’s biggest music stars, the Nigerian singer explored several stage names, hoping to find one that matched her artistic vision.
The search, however, left her with one concern: she did not want her name to tell people who she was before they had even heard her music.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Alade said one of the names she seriously considered was “Electra.”
One of the names that I had played with in my early days was Electra, but I changed my mind because I felt that the minute you hear Electra, you already expect me to be electrifying, and I didn’t want people to see me coming or overexpect.
That realization pushed her back to the drawing board.
She then considered another stage name, “Ginger,” but quickly concluded that it created the same problem by revealing too much about her personality before fans had the chance to discover her themselves.
I wanted them not to know what’s coming, and then I tried another name, Ginger, but the problem is, in Nigeria, when you say ginger, it means energy, and I’m just telling everybody who I am before they meet me.
Instead of settling for another name, Alade decided to stop searching altogether.
She said she prayed for direction and soon found herself looking at her birth name in a completely different way.
I had a moment where I just sat on the idea, and I honestly just reached out to God and just asked, ‘Please lead me,’ and the reckoning that came to me was that I needed to stick to my birth name because it had a huge meaning behind it.
For Alade, the decision became even clearer after she reflected on what her names represent.
Opeyemi means ‘thanks be to God,’ and Alade means ‘the one who holds the crown.’ I feel like that embodies who I am, so I held on to it.
Years later, the decision has paid off.
Rather than building her career around a manufactured stage persona, Yemi Alade turned her birth name into one of the most recognisable brands in African music.
There are fashion shows where the clothes are the main attraction. Then there are those where fashion becomes part of a larger cultural experience.
Speedball Summer 2026 was the latter.
On August 1, Motiv in Bugolobi hosted Kampala’s creatives, fashion enthusiasts and cultural tastemakers for the Speedball Summer, a youth-led showcase that brought together streetwear, music, art and performance.
This year, Guinness Smooth partnered with the event through its Make It Yours campaign, placing creativity, individuality and self-expression at the centre of the experience.
The partnership came alive during the show’s Make It Yours segment, where members of the audience were invited to reimagine outfits that had appeared on the runway.
Some added colour. Others altered the structure of the garments, introduced new details or took the designs in entirely different directions.
It was a departure from the usual relationship between fashion designers and audiences, where the crowd watches from a distance. At Speedball Summer, guests were invited into the creative process.
One garment could carry the ideas of several people, while a single pair of trousers could be interpreted in different ways.
For Guinness Smooth Brand Manager Denise Paula Nazzinda, the moment reflected the purpose behind the partnership.
“Through Make It Yours, Guinness Smooth is creating opportunities for young people to express themselves boldly and turn their ideas into something meaningful,” Nazzinda said.
“Speedball has built a community that celebrates originality, collaboration and authentic self-expression. This partnership allowed us to support a platform where young creatives are not only showcasing their talent but also shaping culture through their own stories and perspectives.”
Speedball founder David Mulolo wanted to move beyond the familiar fashion runway, he partnered with Joshua Waiswa, popularly known as Josh SB, and his 360 Immersive team to combine a fashion show with a live orchestra.
The result was a production that often felt closer to a staged performance than a conventional runway.
The lighting was crisp, the transitions were measured and the models moved through the space with the orchestra providing a changing soundtrack.
At one point, the music carried the dramatic mood of a James Bond film. Later, the energy shifted as the show closed with Kanye West and Jay-Z’s N**as in Paris*.
The combination of orchestral music and streetwear created moments that made the audience briefly forget they were watching a fashion show in Kampala.
The clothes, however, remained central.
Models appeared in baggy jeans, oversized jackets, cut T-shirts, leather pieces, chains and distressed garments. The designs were bold but wearable, reflecting Speedball’s approach to street fashion: expressive without being difficult to wear.
Every garment presented on the runway was designed and made in Uganda, using materials sourced locally.
For Mulolo, the phrase “Made in Uganda” should become more than a manufacturing detail.
“Three years ago, many of us were 17 or 18 years old and had an idea,” Mulolo said after the show.
“Today, we are bringing together large crowds and building something that people believe in. Every piece on that runway was designed and made in Uganda. We want ‘Made in Uganda’ to become something people are proud to wear and support.”
The brand’s ambitions extend beyond selling clothes.
Speedball wants to expand its production capacity, train more young people and build a stronger local fashion ecosystem.
“We want to create a space where we can produce more, customise more and train more people,” Mulolo said.
“Every garment people saw was made by a small team. Imagine what could be achieved with more skilled people and better production capacity. That is how we can build a stronger industry and eventually compete on the global stage.”
The Guinness Smooth partnership also brought music into the evening through a halftime performance featuring Tracy Noel, Julius Ssese and the orchestra.
The performers moved between familiar songs such as Rihanna’s Rude Boy and Ne-Yo’s Miss Independent before transitioning to newer hits, including Ayra Starr’s Who’s That Girl.
The orchestra was not merely background music. It helped shape the rhythm of the evening, connecting fashion, performance and popular culture.
Nazzinda said supporting platforms such as Speedball Summer is part of Guinness Smooth’s wider effort to work with creative communities and give young talent opportunities to be seen.
“Creativity has the power to shape culture and open new possibilities,” she said.
“When young people are given the right platforms, they can collaborate, build communities and create experiences that reflect who they are. Speedball Summer showed the confidence and originality that exists within Uganda’s creative scene.”
The prominent music producer believes many people misunderstood the Kenyan singer’s recent comments about Ugandan music, insisting Bien highlighted a genuine challenge instead of taking a swipe at the industry.
The debate started after Bien appeared on the Let the Cake Podcast, where he discussed Uganda’s music business model and suggested the country’s sound has not evolved much over the years.
His remarks quickly triggered reactions from several Ugandan entertainers, including Pallaso, Mark Da Urban, and DJ Selecta Jeff.
Bien later clarified that short clips circulating online did not capture the full conversation and stressed that he meant no disrespect to Uganda’s music industry.
Bushingtone, however, believes Bien did not need to explain himself.
Appearing on NBS KURT, he argued that the Sauti Sol member simply pointed out that Uganda has not produced enough artists making consistent waves beyond its borders.
What Bien was trying to say, I understood from a positive perspective. He feels there is no real challenge coming from Uganda. There is so much effort coming from Tanzania. When he looks there, he sees Harmonize, Rayvanny, Zuchu, and Diamond Platnumz. In Uganda, if he does not see Joshua Baraka, then he is not seeing anyone. That is where the problem comes in.
Bushingtone believes Uganda has the talent but needs more artists competing at the same regional level as Tanzania’s biggest stars.
He also rejected the idea that Luganda music limits Ugandan musicians.
Instead, he urged artists to keep their identity while making music and marketing that resonate beyond the local audience.
What is the reality? We are doing a lot to export our language, which is not a bad thing. But if you want to sing a lot of Luganda, you also have to add the other two elements. Maybe let us add musical elements that resonate with other markets. Let us add marketing that resonates with other markets.
Bushingtone ended by backing Bien’s message in full.
I do not think he said anything wrong. I do not see why he even had to apologise. Everything he said was sensible.
I don’t see why Bien had to apologise. I understood him from the positive side, and it made a lot of sense.
Rising singer, professional dancer, and content creator Winnie Wa Mummy says firm principles and clear boundaries have helped her avoid the kind of inappropriate advances many female musicians often talk about.
While appearing on Sanyuka TV‘s Bigenda Bitya, Winnie said she has always made it clear where she stands and refuses to compromise her values for opportunities.
She believes that approach has discouraged people from crossing the line.
I am very principled. I know what I want. What I do not agree with, I do not agree with. You are not God. Period. You do not hold my future. If I tell you I do not agree with something, I mean it. If I agree with it, then well and good.
Winnie said she has not encountered those situations because she carries herself in a way that leaves no room for misunderstandings.
According to the singer, people already understand the kind of person she is, and that alone keeps many from testing her boundaries.
I have never gotten such challenges because I think they fear me. I do not go around smiling unnecessarily. I do not give anyone room to start thinking otherwise of me.
Even with that confidence, Winnie does not handle every situation alone.
She said working with a manager adds another layer of protection by helping her navigate the industry professionally and stepping in whenever necessary.
I am principled, but I am not hard to work with. Another reason we have management is to avoid such situations. My manager will always find a way out.
For Winnie, success in music should come from talent, hard work and professionalism, not from giving in to pressure or compromising personal values.
Gospel singer Baby Gloria and her husband, Jonas Mbaleka, have every reason to celebrate after welcoming their first child together.
The couple’s newest chapter unfolded on Saturday, August 1, when family members quietly celebrated the arrival of a healthy baby girl.
Photo | Samiez photography
The happy news reached the public through Baby Gloria’s mother, veteran gospel singer Betty Nakibuuka, who shared a touching video on TikTok.
The clip showed the newborn resting peacefully in a cot while Jonas looked on from nearby.
In the caption, Betty revealed that the couple had welcomed a baby girl.
It’s a baby girl, hallelujah.
Baby Gloria and Jonas have not yet announced the birth themselves.
The birth marks another major milestone for the couple, who exchanged vows on August 29, 2025, during a wedding ceremony at Redeemed Church in Makerere, Kampala.
As news of the baby’s arrival spread, fans and fellow entertainers flooded social media with congratulatory messages, wishing the new parents and their daughter a lifetime of good health, happiness and blessings.
Popular Nigerian preacher Dr. Paul Enenche has sparked debate after launching a scathing attack on Afrobeats, accusing many artists of producing music with little substance and leading young people in the wrong direction.
Enenche made the remarks during his church’s Mid-year Worship Concert, where he urged gospel musicians to create more youth-focused songs that promote positive values.
While announcing a youth programme scheduled for September 25, he challenged gospel artists, including Prinx Emmanuel, to use music as a tool to inspire the next generation.
He argued that young people need meaningful songs instead of what he described as the harmful messages found in parts of the Afrobeats genre.
It is better to have music that is saying something that youth is hearing than the garbage that worldly musicians sing.
Enenche then turned his attention directly to Afrobeats, claiming that many artists promote destructive behaviour through their music.
Most of those Afrobeats are just saying rubbish. Smoking Indian hemp while they are singing and influencing the youths in negative ways.
The preacher said stronger gospel music could provide young people with a positive alternative and help steer them away from harmful influences.
By the time you have this positive replacement for such garbage, then your life can not follow such a direction.
He also encouraged gospel musicians to write songs that teach practical life lessons instead of focusing solely on entertainment.
And I trust that in time to come, more of this music will be very word-loaded to disciple you, show you steps to take, how to stay away from negative friends, how to make the right decisions and so on.
His remarks have already sparked debate online, with some people supporting his call for more value-driven music while others defended Afrobeats as one of Africa’s biggest cultural exports.
Ramathan Ndikuyeze the Kisoro District National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairperson and Central division Chairperson for Kisoro Municipality, Ramathan Ndikuyeze is set to sit for his Primary Leaving Examinations, come Tuesday November 8th, 2022.
The embattled politician, who is facing charges of aggravated trafficking joins 127 other candidates at Kisoro Demonstration Primary School, located in Kisoro Municipality.
Kisoro Demonstration is one of the few schools in Kisoro district that support children with Special needs.
Candidates sitting for their Primary Leaving Examinations are expected to begin with briefing on Monday 7th November 2022.
The candidates will then sit for Mathematics on Tuesday morning, followed by Social Studies in the Afternoon.
Ndikuyeze is expected to sit his final exams using registration number 011473/094 as he to sit his final exams at a special needs school because he allegedly sustained a serious injury to his writing hand.
An assessment report from the Kisoro Medical Superintendent to the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) guarantees Ndikuyeze, an extra 45 minutes on each written examination.
Ndikuyeze, who has been on bail for a few weeks now, keeps a low profile and is said to be conducting home tutoring, in preparation for his exams.
While speaking to our reporter Ndikuyeze said he is in good spirits and he wishes his few candidates success in their exams.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the Banyankole community to preserve the cultural values of the traditional Okuhingira ceremony by discouraging excessive bride price demands and extravagant weddings, warning that the growing commercialization of marriage is discouraging many young people from starting families.
The President made the remarks on Saturday 1st August, 2026 during the Okuhingira ceremony of Ms. Kisha Isabel Byanjeru Kaboyo, daughter of the Minister of State for Luweero Triangle and Rwenzori Region, Hon. Alice Kaboyo, at Kakyeera in Kiruhura District.
During the ceremony, Kisha was formally handed over to Mr. Aaron Mwiije Kafureeka, marking the traditional union of the two families ahead of the couple’s marriage.
The Okuhingira ceremony, one of the Banyankole’s most treasured cultural traditions, formally signifies the giving away of a bride by her family to the groom’s family. It symbolizes the union of families, blessings for the couple and the preservation of cultural heritage, rather than serving as a commercial transaction.
Addressing guests, President Museveni expressed concern over the increasing practice of demanding large sums of money and livestock as bride price.
“You, the Banyankole, are damaging the population with this thing of Okujugusa (paying bride price). Why ask for 15 cows and millions of shillings? Why are you selling your children? You make young people fear marriage and, unfortunately, some begin their lives together in debt,” the President said.
He also called for simpler wedding ceremonies, saying costly celebrations place unnecessary financial pressure on families.
Drawing from his own experience, President Museveni recalled that he and the First Lady, Maama Janet Museveni, celebrated a modest wedding attended by only a handful of guests.
“I have 15 grandchildren. I wedded Maama Janet abroad with only eight guests at a luncheon. These extravagant weddings are going to disturb people. I urge religious leaders to address this issue through their preaching,” he said.
The President explained that although he rarely attends private social functions because of the logistical costs associated with presidential movements, he made an exception for Hon. Kaboyo because of her long-standing service and loyalty to the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
He recounted that Kaboyo joined his family in 1979 while still a student and unknowingly became part of efforts that concealed preparations for the liberation struggle following the disputed 1980 General Election.
President Museveni said that as he publicly projected interest in settling into civilian life, including negotiating to acquire land in Kanoni, Kaboyo frequently accompanied him, helping reinforce the impression that he had abandoned political activities.
According to the President, the strategy successfully diverted attention from preparations for the armed struggle that officially began in February 1981.
He further revealed that after completing her studies, Hon. Kaboyo joined the First Lady in Nairobi, where she helped care for the Museveni family before later moving with them to Sweden.
The President said Kaboyo’s dedication over the years, coupled with the personal losses she had endured, including the deaths of her husband and father, made it important for him to personally attend the ceremony.
“I said, for this case, I must come,” President Museveni remarked.
Beyond the marriage celebrations, the President commended communities in the cattle corridor for embracing settled dairy farming, saying the transition from nomadic pastoralism had significantly improved household incomes.
He encouraged livestock farmers to prepare for prolonged dry seasons by growing and conserving pasture instead of relying solely on natural grazing.
President Museveni also stressed the importance of protecting water sources and expanding irrigation infrastructure to sustain agricultural production.
He said he would direct the Minister of Water and Environment, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, to convene stakeholders to discuss measures to protect the Kakyeera and River Rwizi water systems, which are vital to western Uganda.
Earlier, Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo congratulated the couple and thanked Hon. Kaboyo and her family for hosting the ceremony.
She wished Kisha and Aaron a peaceful, prosperous and enduring marriage, noting that guests were privileged to witness the important cultural milestone.
In her remarks, Hon. Kaboyo described the occasion as a special blessing from God and expressed gratitude to President Museveni for honouring her invitation despite his demanding schedule.
She also welcomed relatives, friends and other guests who had travelled from different parts of the country to witness her daughter’s Okuhingira ceremony.
The colourful cultural event began with prayers led by the Bishop Emeritus of North Ankole Diocese, Rt. Rev. Stephen Namanya, who thanked President Museveni for his continued fight against corruption and for reappointing Hon. Kaboyo as Minister.
Bishop Namanya encouraged the couple to build their marriage on patience, forgiveness and understanding, reminding them that challenges are a normal part of married life.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, senior government officials, military officers, among other invited guests.
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Former Ntungamo Municipality MP Aspirant Rt.Lt . Moses Magufuri says, Uganda’s economic problems started with Prof. Paul Collier who advised the president to liberalize the economy, that made government to start privatizing government entities where our indigenous banks were also closed which is starting to negatively impact on us rapidly amidst good government programs that would work successfully if the proposal is to be effected.
Example our annual collection in revenue is 20 trillion and our budget is 48 trillion, meaning we are less than 28 trillion to run the country’s budget which in the end calls for external borrowing, this justifies the current debt at 80 trillion.
And remember the IGG report on corruption states that 11 trillion are lost annually. In the recent report she presented, the other year she presented 21 trillion, meaning that on average we are losing 16 trillion and compared to 20 trillion annual revenue collection, we cannot run a country of 4 trillion.
This means there is need to reorganize our economy by establishment of agriculture and cooperative bank to increase agro processing for the small and large scale industries to access finance to increase production which will widen the tax base for government to get enough revenue, URA cannot meet target due to stressed economy and also work around increase on the GDP growth in the agricultural sector to at least 70 % if at all we are focusing at registering a middle income status for an inspired society of the least poor common people of Uganda.
The blue eyed boy Rt. Lt .Magufuri’s view to have the Agricultural and commercial bank continues to reflect at local institutions like Wazalendo, NSSF funds and other Sacco’s account that are lying in private banks like stanbic, Cairo international and Post bank which commercial banks are run by foreign investors(repatriators) ,Voters have been here for NRM why same government allow commercial Bank to exploit wanaichi(local people) this not the way of securing our future- Magufuri states
We should all know that according to world bank research, it was established to state that the problem of Africa to succeed economically, it.has been limited capital for the agricultural sector to be able to stand as an independent sector. According to magufuri I presume that for the PDM to succeed well or its success, we must have our parish chiefs to act as loan officers under the proposed agricultural & cooperative bank that will directly act as a linkage of support to the real beneficiaries for a well guided close monitoring of government funding.
Emyooga, wealth creation would have succeeded very well because the common poor people the government intends to target would be guided In a manner on how to directly deal with funding through this bank.
Ugandans must wake up to the harsh economic reality, accessing long term agricultural funding in this country is close to impossible, the commercial banks here don’t trust Ugandan farmers due to lack of collateral, government continue to dump money in all schemes with minimum impact poverty remain alarming, youth unemployment is a reality, many youth are routed to middle East in syndicated slavery which has become a death trap.
Creating a cooperative bank that can provide affordable financing would create opportunities for many young people. The minimum capital requirement to start a bank is not a problem; there must be political good will… Emyooga 250 billion is over and above the minimum capital required by BoU, PDM 1 Trillion, inaccessible monies from ADB, Agricultural facility funds-Bou plus and all monies government is spending for capacity building all over ministries and agencies can be channeled to finance the venture.
The funds being held by SACCOs, WSACCO alone has over 100B in portfolio, our politicians must rethink their actions and understand the pain point of Ugandans are in “Financial trap” Ugandans have lost properties etc .
Agricultural extension officers have been deprived or defused to execute their roles fully because of no motivational indicators that can help the directorate of extension science to be at the centre of human resource since they are the right personalities on ground in our communities.
Remember these people could also be staff of the bank but not the ministry of local government employees.
We should further know that it’s a big challenge to understand the criteria how most parish chiefs come in place because at times it has been stage-managed exercise of recruitment that has exposed to fund embezzlement that has resulted into failure of government programs right from the time of Entandikwa etc intended to transform people economically.
For the Agricultural and commercial bank to be in place it will rescue the government from the mischief of unpatriotic servants who are for God and my stomach. Like for example in western Uganda, the supply of Tea seedlings has been messed up and 149 billions of money has been lost.
That is why the Transformer cadres had proposed for the full implementation of the Regional tier to zone Agricultural regions in terms of industrialization for their enterprises and do value addition according to zones as extension officers work as board members for good supervision on role of production for what best each zone can do best not political driven program that’s why they call these programs museven’s gift or money.
In Western Uganda we have iron ore, therefore if this bank is in place it will help or partner with investor to explore our iron which is plenty and other regions of the country so that we are able to have to export steel to African countries than importation that’s why magufuri believe in a mixed economy than having a private led economy because some investors don’t pay taxes and where also government t has proved not to have control over them instead they influence policies in Parliament to favor their business leaving common Ugandan suffering with commercial bank’s high interest rates a thing that is dangerous to the economically and tax tax holiday,tax waves and Free land to foreign why not empowering Ugandan Pinetti’s ,capital repatriation is putting Uganda nowhere except neocolonialism
To stretch further therefore, just imagine Uganda has been a cooperative country since 1913 when Ugandans started organizing as cooperatives . These early cooperatives started informally until the first cooperative ordinance was enacted in 1946 by African farmers and Uganda has only one cooperative college Kigumba ,which started in 1964 and still producing diploma holders compared to Moshi cooperative university which started in 1963 now offers masters and PhD while cooperative university in TZ which also commenced in 1964 offers masters level and which has given the two economies fair progress unlike home where we seem to be static and instead of introducing cooperative courses from. The Primary to University government is busy introducing Chinese education language syllabus in Uganda. What a shame! Let’s promote and increase technical colleges across,,,, Jesus
In a nutshell, Magufuri seem to be having a vivid point to make Ugandans to have a must understanding to know that its not only PDM that will help in achieving social economic transformation to this holistic participatory approach. Eg PDM + agro processing facilities ( APF) + rural industrial parks,, ( RIP) + urban markets , + cultural and creative industry=Y (income) all require harmonization in accessing credit to develop this country. Therefore Magufuri proposal still stands, let’s have factual principle policies that make our systems to be effective if anyway the NRM and regime manifesto implementation is to be for common poor people centered that will help Uganda’s stressed economy to register a middle income status in our country.
It should be noted that on Thursday, Magufuli held a successful process consultative meeting on the ope rationalization of a long awaited cooperative Bank at Serena Hotel Kampala.
The meeting looked at the rationale for strategic development, of this must do project that is a game changer to the livelihoods of many Ugandans whose income is Agriculture.
This first draft whose, resulting comments ,will lead to the second draft and final plan on the strategic direction and road map of these cooperative movements on Saturday 31st 2023 and is a clear demonstration of the members commitment , and the hunger for long term agro based financing for Ugandans out there.
Similarly the establishment of the cooperative bank reflects a strategic vertical harmonization with the East Africa community integration agenda, on regions collaborative strategy on food science, agro financing and research.
Africa agenda 2065 has a direction towards sufficient food security for her people across the continent.
‘’The time is now for Ugandan farmers to also join the emerging middle class, through engaging in massive commercial production in Agri processing for export. We are delivering this on time, and in accordance with the NDP III, parish development model, increased members’ savings, and investment in the agricultural sector, are direct ways that contribute towards fast- tracking of Uganda’s Vision 2040’’, said Magufuri during the meeting.
The team was guided by Mr. Francis to revise the amendments in the cooperative act and the financial institutions act, as weapons against offensive firing.
Lt .Magufuri said; ‘’discover yourself, a woman cannot get pregnant by just your wishes, you have to do something for the proposed bank to be established by the government -according to him.Therefore a paradigm shift must take place now by me and you ,in the Agricultural sector to create a Bank for all Ugandans’’, he said.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LTD. LT. MOSES MUSISHA MAGUFURI
Born on February 2, 1986, just a few days after the NRM government assumed power. He was raised by Rtd Major Babumba Bwohe Henry, a pilot instructor in the Nakasongola Airforce.
The retired Lieutenant in the UPDF army sat his PLE from Kako P/S and UCE from Rwentobo H/S before he moved to Highway College Makerere.
After his high school studies, he moved to Nkumba University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Procurement and logistics management. He later obtained a Master’s degree in procurement and logistics management from the same University. Magufuri also obtained another Master’s degree of science in monitoring and evaluation from Nkozi University.
He worked with Roofings Ltd as Administration Assistant and at Bishop Stuart University Mbarara as a lecturer. He officially joined the army in 2011 from Kabamba Military Academy in Uganda, he was sent to Somalia in 2013 until 2015 on special duties during the struggle by UPDF to restore peace in Somalia where he significantly fought corruption in the army something that prompted Gen. Saleh and Operation wealth Creation to deploy him as Procurement and seed monitoring officer at NAADS a position he still holds till date so he fights the corruption that was in that body.
Well known for fighting corruption in the army while in Somalia and now in NAADS, Mugisha decided to give politics a shot and in 2018, his retirement from the army was approved. He is the Former MP aspirant Ntungamo municipality
Due to his humble family background, Mugisha is said to be a no-nonsense officer who walks the Talk and is principled, honest and respectful.
KAMPALA – The inaugural Miss Universe Uganda has found herself at the centre of a growing social media storm after online users questioned whether she meets the competition’s nationality requirements.
The controversy surrounds Mitchelle Daka, who was recently crowned Miss Universe Uganda. While many have celebrated her victory, others have pointed to online records suggesting she previously represented Kenya in a major international modelling competition.
According to archived reports, Michelle Daka won the Elite Model Look Kenya 2011 competition at just 15 years old. The contest, held at Nairobi’s InterContinental Hotel, selected her to represent Kenya at the Elite Model Look World Finals.
Fueling the debate further are screenshots circulating online, including an old X (formerly Twitter) account under the name @MitchelleDaka, where the profile bio reads, “#iamkenyan :)” in a post dating back to July 30, 2012.
The issue gained more attention after activist account Africa Yetu shared a post claiming that contestant number 24, Mitchelle Daka, is Kenyan and urging Miss Universe Uganda organisers to investigate the matter.
The post referenced the pageant’s published eligibility rules, which state that contestants “must be Ugandan (by birth or nationality).” Critics argue that if the online claims are accurate, organisers should clarify whether Daka qualifies through Ugandan nationality despite her apparent Kenyan background.
However, the matter is not straightforward.
Recent posts associated with Miss Universe Uganda identify Mitchelle Daka as representing Budaka District in eastern Uganda and celebrate her as the country’s inaugural Miss Universe Uganda winner.
This has sparked mixed reactions online. Some believe her earlier participation in Kenya’s modelling industry proves she is Kenyan, while others note that modelling competitions and national beauty pageants operate under different eligibility rules. It is also possible for someone born or raised in one country to later acquire citizenship or nationality in another, depending on the applicable laws.
As of now, Miss Universe Uganda organisers have not publicly addressed the allegations or clarified Daka’s nationality status.
Until an official statement is issued, the debate remains largely driven by social media speculation rather than verified findings.
Whether the controversy fades or grows will likely depend on how quickly organisers respond and whether they provide documentation confirming that the reigning queen satisfies the competition’s eligibility requirements.
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