By Our Reporter
Uganda made history as Miss Universe Uganda crowned Mitchelle Daka, 29, of Budaka District, as the country’s first-ever Miss Universe Uganda at a Grand Finale held at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. The event marked the culmination of the nation’s inaugural Miss Universe Uganda journey, which launched in May 2026 and narrowed an original field of 25 contestants down to a final court of sixteen finalists vying for the crown.
Daka, who campaigned on mental health and emotional awareness in communities, will represent Uganda at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico, marking a historic milestone for the country’s pageant industry. Daka was given a brand new Toyota Wish together with a cash prize of Shs 24,000,000.
Kimberly Jael Aremo Acio of Kole District was named first runner-up and took home a cash prize of Shs 5,000,000, while Bridget Katungi of Kazo District was named second runner-up, taking home a cash prize of Shs 3,000,000. Sureyah Umeimah of Jinja District rounded out the top four, being named third runner-up in an impressive showing for the inaugural edition of the competition.
The Grand Finale was graced by Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Senior Presidential Advisor, who served as Chief Guest, alongside Patron Halima Namakula.
A Platform Beyond Beauty
Organised by Joram Model Management under the theme “Beyond the Crown,” the pageant was designed to spotlight leadership, advocacy and impact alongside elegance. National Director Joram Muzira Job said the vision behind the competition was to build a platform for women who are leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and changemakers capable of representing Uganda on the global stage.
“Our vision is to build a platform that goes far beyond beauty. Under the theme, Beyond the Crown, we want to discover women who are leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and changemakers capable of representing Uganda on the global stage,” said Muzira.
Throughout the competition, contestants underwent intensive training in leadership, public speaking, media engagement, runway skills and community service. Muzira noted that the goal was never simply to produce a queen who wears a crown, but a woman who can represent Uganda with grace, integrity and purpose, adding that the crown carries responsibility rather than serving merely as a reward. The eventual titleholder will serve as an ambassador for Uganda’s culture, tourism and innovation on the world stage.
A Night of Entertainment and Glamour
The evening was hosted by Malaika and Deedan, who kept the star-studded crowd at the Imperial Royale Hotel entertained throughout the ceremony. Guests were treated to performances from a lineup of Ugandan artistes including Tracy Melon, Jiran Seyn, Karole Kasita, Lillian Mbabazi, Minister Rachel K and Maurice Kirya (straight off a Cannes Film Festival documentary nomination), among others, who together brought colour and energy to the historic night.
The finale also welcomed a special guest appearance from Jean Ojiro, Miss Universe Kenya 2026, underscoring the regional camaraderie surrounding Uganda’s inaugural pageant.
The Grand Finale was proudly powered by V&A Sherry, a Uganda Breweries Limited brand, as headline partner. V&A Sherry has been a vocal supporter of the pageant’s mission to champion women’s leadership, confidence and community impact throughout the competition. Other sponsors and partners included: NRG Radio, Silverline Ssingo Country Hotel, Pepsi, PluggedIn Communications, MOTIV, ATS Events, Kai’s Divo Collection, Aquafina, JMM, Hair by Zziwa, Casa Capri, Play It Loud, Rev TV, Kinetics, Lueur, Print Creations, Embiro Technologies, Kalangala Resort, Nakyejwe Events Consulting, GG Creatives, Natna Hair, and A Woman’s Worth.
Meet the Finalists
Representing districts from across Uganda, the finalists spent the competition championing causes close to their hearts, from mental health and childhood cancer awareness to girls’ education, women’s empowerment and cultural preservation. The top 5 finalists, in no particular order, were:
Bridget Katungi, 34 – Kazo District (Western)
Advocates for Early Childhood Development, emotional literacy and positive parenting to build thriving families.
Jemima Mpoza, 19 – Wakiso District (Central)
Champions youth empowerment through education, leadership and mental resilience.
Kimberly Jael Aremo Acio, 19 – Kole District (Northern)
Passionate about mentoring young people, especially girls.
Sureyah Umeimah, 27 – Jinja District (Eastern)
Champions girls’ education and encourages pursuit of STEM careers.
Mitchelle Daka, 29 – Budaka District (Eastern)
Focuses on mental health and emotional awareness in communities.
Full List of Category Winners
● People’s Choice: Kimberly Jael Aremo
● Multimedia Queen: Mitchelle Daka
● Miss Personality: Nabuzaale Elina
● Super Model Award: Teopista Aromach
● Wellness Queen: Kimberly Jael Aremo
● The Face of NRG & Play It Loud: Jemima Mpoza
● Best Swimsuit: Patience Mutesi & Joan Nabatanzi
● Miss Congeniality: Bridget Katungi
● Miss Photogenic: Faith Mugisha
● Miss Universe V&A Award: Mitchelle Daka