Africa-Press – Uganda. The seven finalists drawn from Moyo, Adjumani, and Obongi districts who participated in the Miss Face of Ma’di beauty pageant grand finale, held at Adjumani Leisure Park in Adjumani Town and also paid a courtesy visit to the palace of Lopirigo Suru Simon Baru XI, the head of the Ma’di Cultural Institution.
The palace is located in Kureku Village, Ofua Sub-county, Adjumani District.
The visit aimed to expose the finalists to best practices in preserving and promoting Ma’di culture and heritage, as well as environmental conservation and protection—key pillars championed by the Ma’di Cultural Institution.
During the grand finale, Chandiru Hadijah Juma from Obongi District was crowned Miss Face of Ma’di 2026, while Doru Kevin Waiga (Obongi) emerged First Runner-up, and Mundua Mary Grace from Moyo District was named Second Runner-up.
Other title holders included Liberty Minzira Liberty (Moyo) as Miss Heritage, Blessing Fionah Ovizio (Moyo) as Miss Photogenic, Daphine Anzoa (Adjumani) as Miss Rising Woman, and Ondeni Prisca Mandeku (Moyo), who will oversee community development projects under the pageant’s foundation.
During the palace visit, the Prime Minister of the Ma’di Cultural Institution, Amacha Goli, led the finalists and founders of the Miss Face of Ma’di Foundation on a guided tour of a section of the royal natural forest. The forest spans 150 acres and hosts 150 beehives dedicated to apiary farming, serving as a model that integrates cultural heritage preservation, environmental conservation, and livelihood support.
The finalists later shared a royal lunch at the palace before engaging in a brief interaction with the cultural leader.
Addressing the participants, Lopirigo Suru Simon Baru XI commended the organisers and finalists for aligning the beauty pageant with the core values of the Ma’di people.
“What the organisers of the Face of Ma’di are doing is enshrined in the Ma’di Constitution of the Ma’di Cultural Institution—promoting Ma’di culture and heritage,” he said.
He urged collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure Ma’di culture is preserved and passed on to future generations.
“The Ma’di Cultural Institution will continue guiding the young generation to dress appropriately, denounce indecent dressing, prepare local foods, and use culture to market the Ma’di sub-region to the rest of the world,” he added.
The cultural leader also emphasized the importance of balancing tradition with modern education.
“Embrace culture alongside formal education because the two together make a productive person,” he noted.
On environmental conservation, Lopirigo Suru warned of the growing threat posed by climate change.
“Be ambassadors and encourage residents to plant trees to conserve the environment. Environmental degradation and climate change are real because people have tampered with nature,” he cautioned.
Speaking after the visit, Miss Face of Ma’di 2026 Chandiru Hadijah Juma pledged to use her tenure to advance cultural preservation and environmental protection across the Ma’di sub-region.
“I will use my platform to rally residents across the Ma’di sub-region to embrace best cultural practices, support cultural preservation initiatives, and protect the environment to avoid the adverse effects of climate change,” Chandiru said.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Francis Denya, one of the seven founders of the Face of Ma’di Foundation, said the initiative was established to respond to pressing community challenges.
“Founded in 2023, Face of Ma’di Foundation is a dynamic community-based organisation headquartered in Moyo District, with active outreach in Adjumani and Obongi districts,” Denya said.
He added that the foundation focuses on addressing gender inequality, teenage pregnancies, and gaps in community governance.
“Our mission is to advocate for and empower communities to unlock their full potential and achieve holistic wellbeing,” he explained.
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment by the finalists to serve as cultural ambassadors, environmental champions, and role models within their communities across the Ma’di sub-region.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
