ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Deaf beauty leaves a millionaire
MUNYONYO- The cliché disability is not
inability could not have been proved more than what was
displayed by the deaf Miss Uganda 2004/2005 first runner-up Ms
Aidat Nabukalu.
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| Sudhir and Jyotsna Ruparelia at the pagean |
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| JUST ASKING: Former Big Brother house star Gaetano Kaggwa (L) interviews Miss Uganda Director Sylvia Owori for M-nets Studio 53 programme. |
19-year-old Nabukalu, who goes to Tororo School for the
deaf, stole all the attention from the winner Ms Barbara
Kimbugwe 19, and bagged Shs55.5 m from the audience to help in
funding a new foundation for the disabled.
Several companies and businessmen pledged between Shs
500,000 and Shs5 m and Shs 55.5m was raised in only about 10
minutes. Nabukalu was also named a Goodwill Ambassador for the
less privileged and to promote education for the girl
child.
When Sylvia Owori announced that SDV Transami had
donated Shs1 million towards the new foundation and that
Roofing’s boss Sikander Lalani had donated Shs2 m, Sudhir and
Jyostna Ruparelia also threw in their Shs2m. All the rich men
were touched by a spirit of benevolence and donated between
Shs500, 000 and Shs5 m. Joystna Ruparelia and Dr Martin Aliker
topped the list with Shs5 m each.
“The money is to help the
disabled acquire education,” a beaming Nabukalu said through
her interpreter.
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| Miss Uganda 2003 Salmah Nassanga |
Nabukalu said she derives are inspiration from
self-belief. “I believe I can do anything other people do,”
she said. Nabukalu’s mother Ms Halima Zansanze said Nabukalu
was born deaf, but she didn’t give up on her.
“She was a very playful child and beautiful baby though
we realised she was deaf and dumb, when she couldn’t say the
word mum,” she recalls.
“She is a very bright girl and she has more friends
than anyone can imagine,” her mother said.
By Henry H. Ssali - The Monitor Publications
Other Stories - 10.08.2004
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