Uganda: Army takes over Miss Uganda beauty contest

The Ugandan army has said it plans to take over the country's Miss Uganda beauty contest, it appears.

Kampala's presidential adviser on the military Gen Caleb Akandwanaho - who is widely known as Salim Saleh - says the move is intended to "attract young people into the agricultural sector", adding that it may help to solve the "problems of hunger and poverty among the youth of the country," the Daily Monitor newspaper reports. Akandwanaho explains that the military is also in the process of taking control of the country's agricultural production scheme, which is meant to move farmers over from subsistence to commercial farming. To achieve the transition, more people need to get interested in agriculture, he says.

But the move by Uganda People's Defence Force into commercial agriculture and beauty contests has raised a few eyebrows. One minister is warning army officers newly trained in agriculture not to become involved in corruption. Social media users think the beauty contest decision defies logic. "So how is this going to work? Will the girls be perched on top of tractors?" one post asks.

Use #NewsfromElsewhere to stay up-to-date with our reports via Twitter.