By Steven Enatu
KABEREMAIDO
In a historical moment for the Kumam speaking community, Pauline Asako, a 19-year-old student at Mbale School of Hygiene, made history as she was crowned the first Miss Kumam on December 23, 2022 from the omodoyi clan.
Pauline said she is pursuing a certificate in Environmental health Science and she is in her year two first semester.
“I was motivated by the theme of the contest because the theme was promoting Kumam culture and girl child education” Pauline narrated.
In her narration about her journey to become the first Miss Kumam, she said that the contest went through a series of activities to get to the top which started with online voting where a miss popularity is chosen in which she only attained 90 votes.
Pauline said she almost moved out of the contest because she was the last in the online miss popularity.
The theme of promoting Kumam culture and Girl child education resonated with Pauline strongly and instead of moving out of the contest, she embraced it wholeheartedly.
With other contestants, Pauline attended a boot camp that was held at Kaberamaido hotel for one week, toured many places, cleaned the town and also visited radio stations for interviews regarding their plans for the Kumam and why they had chosen to go that way.
“On the final day of the contest we were required to do a series of activities, the first one was demonstrating what each member does in their clan and the second was singing the Kuman anthem in which I triumphed as the best.”
When asked whether she was satisfied with the entire process, Pauline said she was really satisfied with the entire process.
For the creative wear that were under the theme promoting girl child education and Kumam culture, Pauline decided to make hers out of white plain papers which signified girl child education with a poster in her hands with writings of BOOKS BEFORE BABIES.
And this was motivated by the Miss Lango contest that had a similar theme to Girl child education.
Being contestant number one, she led the way for modern gown where all the young ladies were asked about the current situations in Uganda and it was carried out majorly in English.
When asked about her reactions as results were announced, Pauline said “when they were announcing the runners up, I expected my name to be among the runners up because I had almost lost hope, but then I was announced as the winner, I felt so much joy.”
Pauline said that she decided to pay a deaf ear to the negative comments because her winning was a blessing from God and because everyone was expecting their contestant to win.
With her newfound platform, Pauline aimed to break barriers, challenges, stereotypes and inspire positive changes in the Kumam community.
One of the key community projects close to Pauline’s heart is the initiative to create reusable pads for the girls in need and she is assisted by her mother Jenifer Judith Adyao who is a teacher.
Recognizing the struggles faced by the many young girls in accessing sanitary products, she sought to alleviate this issue by providing sustainable and affordable solutions.
However, limited funds have hindered the progress of this crucial endeavor, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by aspiring young leaders in securing financial support for their initiatives.
However, Pauline’s journey as Miss Kumam has not been without hurdles, one such challenge arose from the one million shillings award she was promised upon winning the title.
Despite her deserving achievement, Pauline is yet to receive the award in actuality. Nevertheless, this setback has only fueled her determination to persist and seek justice, as she believes that the funds could greatly contribute to her community projects.
In addition to the financial constraints, the lack of transportation has proven to be another obstacle for Pauline. Attending meetings and events related to her role as Miss Kumam requires mobility, yet the absence of adequate transportation options has made it difficult for her to fulfill her commitments effectively.
Despite the challenges encountered along the way, Pauline remains an inspiring figure, undeterred in her quest to make a difference.
Her commitment to promoting Kumam culture and girl child education serves as an inspiration to young people and highlights the importance of nurturing local traditions while fostering educational opportunities for all.
As Pauline continues her journey as Miss Kumam, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the challenges she faces. The support of local authorities, organizations and individuals can play a pivotal role in empowering her to overcome these obstacles.
Together with collective effort and determination, Pauline Asako’s tenure as Miss Kumam can leave a lasting legacy of empowerment, cultural preservation and educational advancement for the generations to come.
