A grandmother, a former beauty queen’s mother and now the woman walking beside the next generation
At 70 years old, Mrs Josephine Nakaliisa Lukoma has probably seen enough family milestones to fill several lifetimes, but last weekend gave her one more unforgettable moment when she stepped onto the Miss Uganda runway alongside her granddaughter, Naggayi Almorie.
The Top Model night introduced a beautiful twist to the competition, asking the contestants to walk the runway with someone special in their lives. For Almorie, the choice was deeply personal. She chose the woman whose presence in her life represents far more than family, her grandmother, Jajja Josephine.
The two walked together in a moment that quickly became one of the most touching scenes of the evening, with the 70-year-old grandmother carrying herself with the elegance and confidence of someone who knew exactly why she was there. Almorie later shared the moment with her followers on Instagram, explaining her decision in words that revealed just how much her grandmother means to her.
“I decided to walk with my grandmother because she’s such a testament and a monument in my life.”
A Crown, A Mother and Three Generations
What made the moment even more meaningful is the history behind it.
Almorie’s mother, Ms. Rachael Mwagale, also contested for Miss Uganda when she was 19 years old. Today, at the same age, her daughter is following a remarkably similar path, stepping onto the same pageant journey with her own dreams of wearing the crown.
For Mrs Lukoma, this makes Almorie’s campaign something deeply personal. She is not simply watching a granddaughter compete in a beauty pageant. She is witnessing another generation of her family step into a space she once watched her daughter enter.
There is something rather poetic about that.
Years ago, Jajja Josephine stood behind her daughter Rachael as she pursued her own Miss Uganda dream. Today, she stands behind Rachael’s daughter, Almorie, as she takes her own shot at the crown. It is a full-circle moment that brings together three generations of women, each with her own story, but connected by the same belief that young women should be encouraged to dream boldly and step confidently into the spaces they deserve.
More Than a Runway Walk
For Almorie, having her grandmother beside her was therefore never simply about finding someone to complete a runway challenge. It was an opportunity to honour the woman who has been part of her story and to recognise the generations of support that have helped shape the young woman she has become.
Jajja Josephine has watched her family’s beauty journey evolve from one generation to another, and her presence throughout that journey is a reminder that behind the glamour of pageantry are families, sacrifices, encouragement and people who believe in these young women long before the cameras begin to roll.
That support has also been reflected in Almorie’s relationship with her mother, Rachael, who has been one of the strongest influences in her journey. From encouraging her daughter to explore her talents and interests to opening doors through the relationships she has built over the years, Rachael has helped expose Almorie to people and opportunities that have allowed her to grow with confidence.
It is fitting, then, that Almorie’s Miss Uganda journey has brought her back to the very stage where her mother once stood.
And Jajja Has One More Message
As the Miss Uganda 2026 finale draws closer, Mrs Lukoma is no longer just the grandmother who walked the runway with her granddaughter. She has become part of the story herself, a 70-year-old Jajja who has now watched two beauty queens in her lineage take their place in the Miss Uganda journey.
And she is asking Ugandans to do what families do best when one of their own is reaching for a dream: stand behind her.
Her message is a simple one. Support her granddaughter, Naggayi Almorie, Contestant Number 19, and vote for her as she takes her final steps towards the Miss Uganda crown.
Because perhaps that is what made the Top Model runway moment so special. It was never really about a 70-year-old grandmother walking a pageant runway.
It was about a grandmother walking beside a granddaughter whose dream has become part of a family legacy.
“At 70, Jajja may have been Almorie’s runway partner for one night, but in the story of this family, she has been walking beside her all along.”
