Why Zari Hassan has been kicked out of Miss Uganda judges’ panel

An ugly on-stage confrontation between Miss Uganda beauty contest judge, Zari Hassan, and event host, Anita Fabiola, has resulted in Zari losing her job.

Miss Uganda 2019 beauty contest was held one week ago at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, when Zari and Anita, who was the event’s emcee, clashed on stage.

It was during the final stages of Miss Uganda, when the drama ensued.

The talent showcases and mini-contests among the Miss Uganda aspirants were good, New Vision reports.

As is the norm, the chief judge had to come on stage and announce the winner.

Anita Fabiola was the MC. So, she invited Zari Hassan on stage. Zari, being the chief judge, was handed an envelope that had the name of the winner.

All she had to do was open it and announce the winner. Anita Fabiola, referring to her as Mama, which she claimed was a gesture of respect, also motioned her to proceed with the same.

“I don’t do admin work,” Zari said while shoving the envelope on Anita Fabiola’s waist area, almost tearing her dress.

Fabiola refused to heed. She made it clear she wouldn’t open the envelope because it wasn’t in her docket.

The contestants watched on while shocked. The audience then began booing Zari. The sponsors exchanged bewildered glances.

The rest of the judges watched on, trying to feign lack of knowledge of the dramatic ordeal that was going on stage. 


“Zari, Zari, Zari,” Anita called out, trying to get Zari to listen to her.


But Zari was not going to listen. The crowd booed Zari even harder.

She tried to fight back with the notion of women coming together. To end the debacle, Fabiola heeded to her (Zari’s) final clutch at restoring sanity to the show, and together, they announced Oliver Nakakande as the winner of the Miss Uganda 2019/2020 crown.

But the crowd had already chosen their side; it was Fabiola they sympathised with.

And, now Zari’s contract with Miss Uganda as the pageant’s chief judge has been terminated.

Miss Uganda director, Brenda Nyanjonjo, confirmed that Zari was kicked out of the arrangement.

“As Miss Uganda organisers, we are being blamed for not reining in on disorderly officials. We cannot condone disrespect. We have, therefore, kicked out the disrespectful person [Zari],” said Brenda.