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Brenda Nanyonjo, the CEO of the Miss Uganda Beauty Pageant, has opened up about her future and her eventual plans to retire from the role she has held for one and a half decades.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Nanyonjo revealed that while retirement has not been at the forefront of her mind, she does plan to step down when the time feels right.
"I have not given retirement much thought; I'm more of a self-appointed head of Miss Uganda. The beauty about this position is that it is not like a government job, where you are elected or appointed and given terms to serve," she said.
Since taking the reins of the Miss Uganda pageant in 2011, Nanyonjo has dedicated herself to leading the initiative.
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Despite the challenges and pressures that come with the role, she has consistently reminded herself that this was a personal decision, one she took on willingly.
"I took the choice to lead this initiative, and that is why every time I get overburdened by the responsibilities, I always remind myself that I took on this project and it is my cross to carry," she explained.
Brenda Nyanyonjo
Retirement: When the Time Feels Right
While Nanyonjo is not yet ready to retire, she is clear about her intentions for the future.
"I do plan to retire in the future when I feel like I cannot handle it anymore," she said.
When the time comes, Nanyonjo stated that she will return the Miss Uganda licence, leaving the door open for someone else to step into the role.
"Whenever I feel like it's time to retire, I will just take back the licence and hopefully someone else will come up and apply for it," she revealed.
Her ideal successor, Nanyonjo hopes, will be one of the former Miss Uganda winners.
"My hope is that it will be one of my girls, because I feel there is a lot of potential there," she added
Brenda Nyanyonjo
Challenges and Support Along the Way
Throughout her tenure, Nanyonjo has faced numerous challenges, particularly in terms of financing.
The lack of consistent financial backing has been a constant struggle for the Miss Uganda pageant, and Nanyonjo admitted that this can often be overwhelming.
However, she did acknowledge the support they have received along the way, notably from Gen. Salim Saleh, head of Operation Wealth Creation.
Saleh helped the pageant in 2014 and 2015, but unfortunately, issues with intermediaries who sought personal gain caused frustration, leading him to withdraw his support.
Brenda Nyanyonjo with her girls
Despite these setbacks, Nanyonjo remains committed to the Miss Uganda pageant and its legacy, with hopes that a future successor will carry the vision forward and continue to build on the foundation she has laid.