By Our Reporter
Over the weekend at Motiv Bugolobi, Nakato Bridget Prudence was crowned Miss Uganda West Nile, closing out a regional search that turned months of preparation and hometown pride into one unforgettable night. Her win sends her straight to the Miss Uganda Grand Finale on October 10, where one woman will be crowned Miss Uganda 2026 and earn the right to represent the country at Miss World.
Young women from across West Nile, a region long known for producing some of Uganda’s finest honey, travelled from their communities to take part, each hoping to carry her hometown’s name onto the national stage.
Powered by V&A Sherry, the West Nile leg of the Miss Uganda journey was one for the books, unfolding across a V&A party with the queens, auditions, and the grand finale itself. At every stage, the contestants shared a little more of themselves, and the region showed up to celebrate them for it.
On finale night, each contestant told the judges what she would stand for if she won. Their causes ranged from mental health awareness to body advocacy and girl-child education, among others; deeply personal choices that said as much about each woman as her poise on stage did. Every walk, every word, every flash of personality gave the audience an opportunity to see women speaking plainly about who they were and what they cared about.
That spirit is exactly what V&A Sherry set out to celebrate, says Roy Ronald Tumwizere, Brand Manager for V&A Sherry at Uganda Breweries Limited.
“We are at the West Nile leg of the Miss Uganda journey, and I am proud of every young woman who has taken the opportunity to share a bit of their personality with the nation. At V&A Sherry, we believe the moments that matter most are meant to be shared, because they are ‘Yours to Share’. We are proud to celebrate the young women as they step forward, represent their communities, and pursue their dreams on the national stage.” He said.
Between rounds, performances by artists straight from West Nile filled Motiv Bugolobi, turning every pause in the competition into a pocket of pure celebration. The night built toward a headline set from legendary artist Jackie Chandiru, who had the crowd singing along to Blu 3 classics such as “Nsanyuka Nawe” and “Where You Are,” before closing out with solo favourites like “Gold Digger” which had guests reminiscing on an era when music was both lyrical and tune gold.
By the time the judges were ready to announce the results, the room was thick with nerves. Every name called sent a ripple through the crowd, tension breaking into cheers that said everything about how much the night meant to those who had come out to support their own.
The winners were: Nakato Bridget Prudence who was crowned Miss Uganda WestNile, Asianzu Sophie who was the 1st Runner-Up and Taneta Catherine Melish who was crowned 2nd Runner-Up.
As West Nile’s winner, Nakato Bridget Prudence now advances automatically to the Miss Uganda Grand Finale on October 10 at Sheraton Kampala Hotel, where she will compete for the national crown and the chance to represent Uganda at Miss World. Two regional legs remain on the tour that is, Western and Central where more young women will soon step into the spotlight, hoping to earn their own place at the Grand Finale.