Elizabeth Bagaya, who was the first runner up in the 2019/2020 Miss Uganda pageant has been crowned as the new interim Miss Uganda 2020/21, replacing Olivier Nakakande, who is away pursuing her studies in The United Arab Emirates.


Ms. Brenda Nanyonjo, the Chief Executive Officer of The Miss Uganda Foundation announced that Bagaya’s appointment is effective immediately until when a new beauty queen is crowned later this year.According to Nanyonjo, “Nakakande has not been able to perform her Miss Uganda duties as she has been away from Uganda for the last eight months studying at Middlesex University in Dubai and could not strike a balance. In the pageant world, if the reigning queen for any reason fails to perform her duties, the first runner up takes over the crown”.


Elizabeth Bagaya who was the 1st runner up now takes over as Miss Uganda and Mariam Nyamatte now assumes the position of 1st runner up while Petronella Acen who is also the reigning Miss Uganda North now becomes 2nd runner up. These beauty queens have already started carrying on their new Miss Uganda roles that include charity under the Miss Uganda Foundation, attending official meetings, interviews and events.

Elizabeth Bagaya


Just like all other annual events, Last year’s Miss Uganda pageant search was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic induced restrictions on mass gatherings and the organisers had to further Oliver Nakakande’s reign for another year. The same was the case world over as all countries extended their 2019/2020 beauty queens’ reign, including Miss World, Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica, who was crowned on 14 December 2019 in London, England.


Elizabeth Bagaya is 26 years of age and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management and is a make-up artist by profession. At the time of her appointment, Bagaya was also running her Bagaya Elizabeth Foundation that helps to extend financial and mental support to children at Butabika Hospital. In an Instagram post, Bagaya quotes “If I could inspire just one girl and let them know that they are beautiful and can do amazing things, my heart would be full.”

Kezzi Entertainment, the exclusive holders of the Miss World license in Uganda together with their joint venture partner Talent Africa Group anticipate a bigger return of the pageant with finals in October this year in which the selected Miss Uganda will be mentored by the Academy of Queens, to represent Uganda at the global Miss World event.