From: Leo Odera Omolo

A row has erupted over the winner of the Miss Uganda 2010 pageant. Hazmie Nansubuga, 25, was crowned shortly before mid-night on Saturday at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.,the NEWVISION reported this morning

Miss Uganda 2010 Hazmie Nansubuga is flanked by Barbara Kajote on the left and Gloria Atuhairwe on the right

The sales representative from Jinja beat 11 other finalists to the crown after three hours on the catwalk.

Barbara Kajote was 1st runner-up, while Gloria Atuhaire came second.

“I will represent Uganda well in the Miss World contest, because I am good-natured, intelligent, confident and beautiful,” a beaming Nansubuga told journalists after being declared winner.

But shortly after she had been announced winner, Allan Kasujja, a Capital FM presenter, and one of the four judges, told journalists that Nansubuga was not the contestant the judges had chosen as the winner.

Kasujja said they had unanimously chosen Aisha Nagudi as winner.

Nagudi, a 21-year-old second-year law student of Makerere University, had earlier in the evening won two of the three catwalk sessions; the traditional and evening wear.

Another judge said the judges had chosen Nagudi because she was exceptionally tall.

“Height is a very prized quality at the Miss World pageant. Since the winner is going to represent Uganda in the world pageant, we felt Nagudi’s height stood a better chance of winning out there,” the judge said.

Nansubuga, according to the judge, was the first runner-up.

But Joyce Church, the Miss World licence holder for Miss Uganda and event organiser, said the judges’ decision was not final since winning was not solely based on the activities of the evening.

She said the judges’ marks were added onto those which the organisers had awarded the girls during the three-week boot-camp in Entebbe.

“There are many things in the boot-camp for which the judges can’t give marks. We judge the girls on their interpersonal communication, organisational skills, etiquette, discipline and character,” Church said.

Nansubuga, she said, won on the strength of the qualities she exhibited during the camp.

But Kasujja said the judges were not informed before hand that their decision would not be final, which Church denies.

However, an independent source said judges at beauty pageants are not supposed to know the identity of the winner before the final announcement is made as was the case here.

“Each judge submits their score sheet to the organisers independently. A tally is then made, from which the winner is determined.”

Last year, controversy broke out after Maria Namiiro, a UK citizen of Ugandan ancestry, who had earlier won Miss Uganda UK, was announced Miss Uganda.

This is the second time Joyce Church, under her company, Performance Production Ltd, is organising the pageant

Ends