Rebecca Sarah MukasaFresh from being crowned Miss Uganda-UK 2025/26, REBECCA SARAH MAKASA is using her platform to reconnect with her roots and support vulnerable communities back home. During her recent visit to Uganda, Quick Talk had an exclusive interview with the 25-year-old London-born beauty queen. Hi Rebecca! Nice to meet you. Hello Devon. Nice to meet you as well. Is this your first time in Uganda? No, I have been here a few times. I first came when I was nine years old in 2010. I came back in 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, and I also came last year in January [mmm, someone loves the Motherland!] Were you born here? I’m British-born, but also of Ugandan heritage. Tell Quick Talk about your background. My name is Rebecca Sarah Makasa. I’m 25 years old and reside in London, but I’m of Ugandan heritage. I went to Bromley high school, Haberdashers Askes and Hatcham college and then Leicester university for a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.I graduated Pharmaceutical Chemistry. I graduated in 2022. My parents came to the UK in 2000. What was your biggest cultural shock when you first came to Uganda? The mosquitos, because in the UK, we don’t have them. I was there crying and telling my mom to take me back home; then also, the toilets on the floor [pit latrines and squatting pans, Quick Talk guesses…] I had ever seen something like that in my life, and then seeing lizards [geckos] in the house really scared me. Do you enjoy Ugandan food? Oh, I love matooke and binyebwa, chapatti, mandazi, kikomando and pilau, but I’m not a fan of posho and sweet potato. As a black kid in the UK, how was school life? For secondary school, I went to a private school and there were more white kids than black kids. Being one of the only few black girls in an all-girls school was a bit difficult initially, because you don’t see many people who look like you and sometimes feel a little bit left out. And a lot of those girls came from very wealthy families. I wasn’t as rich; I was there because I had a scholarship for academics. I guess it taught me that there are people out there that have a lot of money, but it made me want to work really hard so that I can get a good job and live an even better life. Do you speak Luganda, by the way? At home, my parents speak Luganda. But of course, at school, we speak English. So, I understand what my parents say to me, but I struggle to [respond] to them. How do you keep in touch with your Ugandan Heritage? There are so many ways; for example, taking part in Miss Uganda-UK was a way for me to connect with my heritage and integrate more and actually make more friends who are also Ugandans. I think also being able to connect through media – television, movies… I really do want to get a tutor to learn Luganda, because I understand it, but speaking is the hard part. Was being a beauty queen part of your childhood dreams? When I was a child I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, but when I got to doing the applications for medical school my pass mark was below the average, so I pursued a career in pharmaceuticals instead. How did you know about the Miss Uganda-UK pageant? My first introduction to Miss UgandaUK was the year that Bridget Katungi won in 2016/17 and I knew her. I was like maybe one day I will do it. Last year I saw on their Instagram page that applications were open again and my friends encouraged me to apply. What made you stand out among all the other contestants? I guess my perseverance, resilience, being a good team player and being my authentic self. I think one of the important things as a queen is to be who you are, and not to shy away. I feel like God has made every single one of us in His own unique way, and we all have our own talent, our own special gifts.What impact did participation in the pageant have on you? Miss Uganda-UK taught me to be confident, and when I enter a space, it’s to own it, and be proud of who I am. I think it also taught me time management skills, being more organized, and that anything I set my mind on, I can really achieve it. Tell Quick Talk about your charity event last week. For my reign, I want to support teenage mothers. The inspiration behind that is my younger sister. She’s a young mother herself, and watching her navigate motherhood so early made me think about mothers back home, who have less access to resources. I felt the need to support teenage mothers and in the process raise funds; I did a 5km run and managed to raise over £1,000 [about Shs 5m]. I also held a Kiganda dance class in April. We raised £525 from that. Which areas did you got to? I went to Gomba, because that’s where my family comes from. We visited Kanoni Health Centre III and Kyifampa Health Centre III. And then we went to Luwero. We visited Canon Christian Centre, Matendo and gave out reusable nappies, which were gifted to us by organizations in the UK; we gave them soap, sugar, toothpaste and brushes. All these things will eventually run out or get old. So, the best I can do in the future is maybe work on teaching them a skill. You also had a tourism experience; which places did you got to? I first visited Ssezibwa falls, then Sikia café [which is staffed by the deaf and hard of hearing], then we went to Gogolo slides and ended our trip at the Uganda Railway museum [someone has quite a lot more to see in Uganda!] Which activity stood out most for you? Having breakfast at Sikia Café, Uganda’s first sign language café. It was my first time visiting a café where the waitresses were deaf and communication happened entirely through sign language and writing. It was such a beautiful experience to be part of. Oh, and the pancakes [kabalagala]? Absolutely delicious; easily one of the best things I ate on the trip! My experience in Uganda was nothing short of incredible. Despite the language barrier, the profound warmth and hospitality of the people instantly made me feel at ease and at home. I found a community that was not only willing to listen, but eager to actively engage. Was there anything that left a lasting impression? The remarkable spirit of the Ugandan people. No matter where I went, I was met with genuine happiness. It is a joy that isn’t tied to material things, but rather rooted in contentment and an unshakable faith. Witnessing people who face incredibly challenging living conditions, yet continue to meet the world with a smile and an open heart, was truly life-changing. What do you do in your free time? Currently, I’m a sales assistant in a clothing store; I’ve been doing that for the past year. Other things I really enjoy: I love to read, I enjoy fashion, I like making content on social media. I enjoy being with my friends, I like listening to music and I really want to travel the world more so that I can learn about different people, different cultures, different traditions. Yeah, that’s what I really enjoy. devonssuubi@gmail.comThe post Meet the pharmaceutical chemist who is Miss Uganda-UK appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.