By Ogova Ondego
Published November 22, 2007

Reigning Miss East Africa UK, Uganda-born Maureen Nyakaira, dined and wined with the Queen of England on November 12, 2007, in the name of “the underprivileged children in East Africa”. OGOVA ONDEGO writes.

This meeting with Nyakaira could have been to prepare the British monarch ahead of her trip to Kampala for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, CHOGM, in November 2007.But whatever the reason, Nyakaira has become the only beauty queen in the UK to receive an invitation to join the exclusive reception and dinner at Buckingham Palace organised by the Queen. The meeting is unique in the sense that most people living in the UK have never met the queen, let alone come close to the royal Buckingham Palace.

According to a statement from the Miss East Africa UK beauty pageant organisers, the event was founded by Kenya-born Pauline Long to sensitise society on issues affecting under-privileged children in East Africa. The organisation, therefore, works with various East African children’s charities: Rafiki Care Home of Kenya, Pearl Children of Uganda, and Forever Angels Baby Home of Tanzania, amongst others.

RELATED:  Tanzania Launches Swahili Fashion Week, Hosts Travellers’ Philanthropy Conference

In this regard, Maureen Nyakaira is scheduled to begin her tour of East African children’s charities on December 22, 2007. She is expected to begin with Tanzania’s Forever Angels Baby Home that accommodates HIV/AIDS orphans aged three months-three years. Here, she will deliver nappies, wipes and baby food.

After spending Christmas with the orphans in Tanzania, Nyakaira will then proceed to Kenya on December 29 to spend the New Year (2008) with children in Nyumbani Children’s Home and Rafiki Children.

As part of her East African tour, Nyakaira has also teamed up with UGPULSE.COM to hold what is touted as the biggest charity concert in Kampala January 12, 2008.
Dubbed Nyaka Eire Concert, the event is expected to feature  some of the leading acts in music entertainment in East Africa. Among others, they include Jose Chameleone, Mariam Ndagire, PiliPili, and Ngoni who will perform alongside international artists such as Canadian singer/humanitarian Kay Morris. The proceeds from Nyaka Eire concert, Miss East Africa UK organisers say, is in aid of Nyaka School of orphans and Pearl Care Children of Uganda.

RELATED:  Ally Rehmtullah Launches His African Couture Collection at London Fashion Week

And Nyakaira’s hands are going to be pretty full, bearing in mind that she is likely to work with Prince Michael of Kent who during the Buckingham Palace reception asked her to work with him in his charities.

In 2006, Nyakaira’s predecessor, Brenda Akot, is reported to have visited Rafiki Children’s Home and Nyumbani Children’s Home of Kenya.