At 19, Almorie Naggayi is entering the Miss Uganda 2026 competition with a background that extends well beyond the pageant stage.
Representing Masaka City and the Central Region as Contestant Number 19, Naggayi has already gained experience in pageantry, international representation, diplomacy, sport, media and fashion.
Her pageantry journey began with the Miss Uganda High School 2024/25 competition, where she became the inaugural titleholder. The experience introduced her to the responsibilities that come with representing others while still at a young age.
She later represented Uganda at Miss Teen International in India, giving her an opportunity to compete on an international platform and interact with participants from different backgrounds.
That experience also gave Naggayi an early taste of representing Uganda beyond its borders — an experience she now brings into the Miss Uganda competition.
Building a Voice Beyond Pageantry
Naggayi’s interests have also taken her into diplomacy and international affairs.
During her time at Aga Khan High School, she participated in UN Model Debate activities, developing her public-speaking and research skills.
She later participated in the Foreign Policy and Leadership Program and Early Careers Foreign Policy Analysis, a professional development programme offered by the American Center Kampala in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Kampala, Lincoln Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations, and the Center for Policy and Strategic Studies.
The programmes exposed her to areas including foreign policy, diplomacy, international relations and strategic leadership.
From Swimming to Media and Fashion
Sport has been another significant part of Naggayi’s journey.
She became a national team swimmer and represented Uganda, while also participating in basketball and athletics. Those experiences have added another dimension to her background outside pageantry.
Her interests extend into the creative industries as well.
Naggayi gained behind-the-scenes experience at NRG Radio, giving her exposure to broadcasting, media and storytelling. She has also continued developing her presence in fashion, including a recent appearance on the Bold Africa runway.
Music, dance and drama have likewise formed part of her interests from an early age.
Taken together, those experiences have given Naggayi exposure to several different environments — from competitive sport and international pageantry to diplomacy, broadcasting and fashion.
A New Pageant Challenge
Naggayi now enters the Miss Uganda 2026 competition at a different stage of her journey.
She is no longer competing under a school or teenage pageant title. Instead, Contestant Number 19 is seeking the national crown while representing Masaka City and the Central Region.
Her supporters point to her previous experiences as evidence of the preparation she has already received for a larger public platform.
Ultimately, the Miss Uganda crown will be decided by the competition and its selection process. But Naggayi arrives at the 2026 finale with a résumé that includes international pageantry, national-level sport, diplomacy, media and fashion.
For Contestant Number 19, the next step is turning that experience into a performance strong enough to secure the Miss Uganda 2026 crown.