Beauty Beyond looks; PWDs fight stigma with beauty pageant

Mr. & Miss Ability Uganda, a confidence building beauty pageant that aims at empowering persons living with disabilities has seen persons with disabilities crowned in their second edition.

 Running under the theme ‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world’ the contest began last year with regional auditions where regional representatives were crowned from Eastern, Northern, Western and central Uganda respectively giving a total of 16 ambassadors.

All the 16 outstanding ambassadors were first engaged in a one week's bootcamp focusing on areas of Performing Arts, Sexual Reproductive Health Knowledge, Confidence building, Financial Literacy & Book keeping, Soft skills and social etiquette, Environmental protection & Climate Change awareness.

Mr. Elijah Reagan Arinaitwe from central, a dancer with albinism and Miss Musimenta Parton from western, a young woman with a hearing impairment were officially crowned as Mr & Miss Ability 2023/2024 in a colorful ceremony held at Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala

The Miss Ability was crowned by Mrs, Angella Thembo Director of Evelyn Apartments and the Mr. Ability was crowned by Mr. Robert Nkwanku the Executive Director of Uganda National Association of the Deaf (UNAD).

Mr. Ariko Hillary from Eastern, an artist with a hearing impairment and Miss Nashua Patience from Central, a student with a hearing impairment were officially crowned the Runners Up. 

Mr. Ability Central Region Mr. Balinda Musti walked away with the Mr. Famous Ability as voted by the public on the voting platform “Africa Votes” where a voting competition was held. The Miss Ability 23/24 Miss Musiimenta Parton also won the Miss Famous Ability being most voted among all female contestants. Miss Ability Northern Region Miss Anena Judith was named Most Talented by the judges as she excited the crowds with her electrifying Luo Dance.

The panel of Judges included; Miss Michelle Omamteker, founder MALENGO Foundation. Mr. Peter Ogik Co-founder and Executive director, Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism and Miss Nalinya Phiona, CEO Little Miss Universe Uganda & Kampala Kids Club.

Also, the event crowned the first ever LITTLE MR and MISS ABILITY UGANDA, Atangaza Joel Governor (13) with a physical disability was crowned the first ever little Mr Ability while Enrika Mijumbi Kabagenyi (14) with hearing impairments was crowned little miss ability.

Nyanzi Gerald and Gift Ninsiima both Physical Disability were crowned runners up Little Mr and Miss Ability.

 “When you look at this show, different talents are covered and they are visualized by a number of people outside the world. Through Mr&Miss ability pageant show many people will be touched hence changing their mindset and attitude towards disability” Hillary Ariko, an artist with a hearing impairment noted

Unique Abilities Foundation Africa, a youth and female led organization that advocates for an inclusive community that lives in good harmony with an empowered, confident and celebrated persons living with disabilities saw the second edition of Mr. and Miss ability happen with partners including, NUWODU, UNAD, EVELYN APARTMENTS, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD, SUMZ crisps, LAKE MUNYANYANGE, BRAND AMBASSADORS 256, TUNAWEZA, LATO MILK and POA TV.