The search for Miss Uganda 2026 has entered a new stage following the official unveiling of 22 finalists during a glamorous Presentation Night held at Kampala Sheraton Hotel.

The event, held on Friday evening and broadcast live exclusively on StarTimes Makula Kika, brought together celebrities, government officials, women in sport, industry leaders, sponsors, partners and members of the public.

This year’s pageant is particularly significant as Miss Uganda celebrates 15 years of promoting Ugandan beauty, talent, confidence and ambition.

Miss Uganda Foundation Chief Executive Officer Brenda Nanyonjo said the pageant’s 15-year journey has gone beyond crowns and titles to transform the lives of young women.
“When I look at what Miss Uganda has achieved over the last 15 years, I don’t just see crowns and titles
I see lives transformed, dreams realised, and young women empowered to become leaders in their communities and beyond,” Nanyonjo said.

The 2026 search officially started on July 26, with organisers travelling across Uganda’s geographical regions to identify contestants who demonstrate beauty, talent, confidence and ambition.

Following the regional auditions, 22 contestants emerged as finalists, representing different parts of the country and showcasing Uganda’s cultural diversity.

The Presentation Night featured music performances by Abeeka Band and popular Ugandan singer Spice Diana, while guests were also treated to a range of brand experiences from the pageant’s sponsors and partners.

According to Miss Uganda Foundation Director of Business Development Klaire Komakech, guests enjoyed product sampling from Vaseline and 7 Days, while V&A Sherry hosted a special toast to mark the 15th anniversary of the pageant.

Oppein Home also provided a luxury lounge that added to the evening’s ambience.

StarTimes Vice President Kenneth Kazooba congratulated the Miss Uganda Foundation on reaching the 15-year milestone and commended the organisation for embracing television as part of the pageant experience.
“As StarTimes congratulates Miss Uganda Foundation upon making 15 years, I also take the opportunity to thank them for accepting to demystify the pageant into a TV reality show,” Kazooba said.

He also thanked viewers for their continued support of Miss Uganda on Makula Kika, saying their loyalty had contributed to the growth of the service.

The event also gave sponsors an opportunity to engage directly with the audience and showcase their products and services.

Miss Uganda 2026 is lead-sponsored by Oppein Home, with V&A Sherry, Vaseline, CHINT, Uhome, Evervess and 7 Days International supporting the competition as partner sponsors.

StarTimes broadcast the Presentation Night live on Makula Kika from 6pm, allowing viewers across Uganda to follow the unveiling of the finalists.

With the 22 finalists now unveiled, attention turns to the boot camp and subsequent stages of the competition.

The journey will culminate in the Miss Uganda 2026 Grand Finale on October 10, 2026, when the new Miss Uganda will be crowned.

Makula Kika is a variety entertainment television channel available exclusively on the StarTimes platform. It is available on Channel 229 on the Antenna decoder and Channel 493 on the Satellite decoder.