Nakaseke girl, Hannah, on being Uganda’s beauty queen 

HANNAH KAREMA TUMUKUNDE, 20, is the newly crowned Miss Uganda. Quick Talk caught up with her, and she talked about her journey to the crown.

Congratulations on your win, Hannah!

Thank you. I feel so blessed and grateful to God because it all starts with Him. [Quick Talk finds her at Sheraton hotel gardens with runners-up, Whitney Martha Ademun and Prossy Agwang. She is clad in a high-slit pink dress, having ditched the high heels for simple flat shoes.]

What went through your mind when you were announced as the winner?

I didn’t believe it at first; I felt like I was in a dream, because this is something I have always dreamt of as a child and now here I was being crowned as Miss Uganda.

I realized it wasn’t a dream when one of my friends came on stage and hugged me. I got so emotional but as a beauty queen, you are not supposed to cry because you risk ruining your makeup and your pictures [She pats her eyes with her fingers demonstrating how she gently wiped away the tears, careful not to ruin her mascara.]

How would you describe yourself?

Hannah is just a humble girl, God-fearing and very ambitious.

Where do you come from?

I was born and raised in Nakaseke district, Kinoni village to Godfrey and Jacky Karema. We are 15 children from my father and nine from my mother, where I am the last born of my mother. I have lived in Nakaseke for most of my life. I started coming to Kampala in my senior one mainly for studies but during the holidays I would still go back to Nakaseke.

Which schools did you go to?

I went to Kinoni primary school, Nakaseke for my primary school, Midland High School Kawempe for O-level and Seroma Christian High School for A-level. I am currently still in senior six vacation.

Which course do you hope to do at university?

I am hoping to study either law or journalism.

How do you plan on balancing this new responsibility as Miss Uganda and books?

A lot is already happening, but whatever happens, I still have to study no matter at what age, because I need to be educated. But if at all I fail to manage going to school now, I can still do it later when I have handed over the crown.

Where did you get the inspiration to join the Miss Uganda competition?

I have always had a cause as a girl, because while growing, I had friends who I used to study with who ended up getting married at a very young age andasagirl,I would feel so pained by this.

I always wanted [to talk about] the dangers of early childhood marriages but I didn’t know how to. But then I started watching Miss Uganda and saw that all the previous queens had their causes which were also about empowering women.

I, therefore, saw that this would be the right platform to help me voice out my concerns about early marriages and teenage pregnancies.

And how do you plan on tackling that issue?

Most people who force underage girls into marriage disguise it as culture. So, I believe we first have to talk to parents and guardians and inform them that girls are also supposed to complete their education and fulfill their dreams. I think what we should do first is to rally parents, since they are the custodians of the children.

How did your parents react when you told them you were going to contest?

At first my father didn’t know what Miss Uganda was all about but I explained to him what it is and why I was contesting. Fortunately, he understood and has been very supportive. You competed with 20 other girls.

What made you stand out?

You know before you go into pageantry, you have to prepare yourself mentally. I have always been watching these pageants such as Miss Uganda, Miss World and Miss Universe and they are more or less the same. I knew what exactly to do when I am in front of the judges. But since I was not the judge, I cannot tell exactly what they based on to choose me as the winner.

How was the whole experience?

Honestly, it was very challenging because we were exposed to a new space of staying with 20 other people you have never been with; so, you have to adopt, learn how to work as a group and lead. We learnt a lot of things while in the boot camp, especially in terms of expressing ourselves.

Which former queen do you look up to?

Quiin Abenakyo was really exceptional. She brought honour to our country and that is the dream of every girl who contests for Miss Uganda.

You had a lot of support on social media; how did you pull all that support?

I had a big support system with my sisters running everything for me. What Ihadtodowastogocontest, do my best and leave the rest to them. All those people who were campaigning for me including celebrities, most of them are family friends and others are personal friends. I was scared of failing and disappointing the people who had supported me.

You walked away with a Toyota Wish; do you know how to drive?

[Laughing:] I don’t know how to drive. Where would I have learnt from? There are not that many cars in Nakaseke and my dad was too tough to give me his car. But I hope to learn very soon.

What do you love most about your country?

We are very welcoming people and hospitable. We have many tribes but everyone finds solace and comfort in one another.

Speaking of tribes, what is yours?

I am Ugandan. But to be more specific, I am a mixture of Banyarwanda and Banyankore – what some people these days call Abavandimwe.

What is your best place in Uganda?

At first I did not like Nakaseke, because it is very hot and has very bad roads, but I am now starting to be proud of it because it is the people there who have made me what I am today and taught me all the values I stand for today.

And your best dish?

Matooke and groundnut sauce. It is what I love cooking the most, even.

What are your hobbies?

I love travelling, although I have never travelled. I have been in Uganda since I was born, but now hope to start travelling. I also love listening to music and getting some fresh air especially when I feel down. I enjoy listening to Levixone, B2C, Eddy Kenzo and Spice Diana.

Any advice to the young girls out there?

My advice would be to take their time, and not rush. Sometimes if you rush to do something because you are too hungry for it yet the time is not right, you may end up doing it wrong and regret.

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