IT HAS TAKEN 12 EDITIONS for a young woman with disability to participate in Miss Rwanda. On Saturday February 5, Jeannette Uwimana, a contestant with hearing impairment, made the decision against all odds and gave it a shot during the auditions held in Huye District.

She is now making headlines after she earned a PASS during the auditions, becoming one of nine contestants to represent the Southern Province.

Born in Busasamana in Nyanza District, the high school graduate grew up with a dream to one day participate in Miss Rwanda, a dream she achieved last weekend when she was allowed to contest in the beauty contest during the auditions held in Huye District.

Uwimana, 26, was born deaf but the disability did not take her confidence down as she made her dream to contest for the crown for the 2022 edition of the ongoing edition a reality.

"When I finished my secondary school studies I thought ‘why should I not participate and see how it goes?’ My family supported the idea and here I am,” she said.

Uwimana first showed interest to participate in the beauty contest during the 2021 edition but was at some point discouraged by some of her friends that her disability would make it difficult for her to succeed in the contest.

"My family was ready to support me but some of my friends said it was not possible because they thought I would not communicate with the judges. For them, it was impossible because the judges couldn’t understand me” she said.

For that reason, she called for more training on the use of sign language in different sectors to ensure effective communication with deaf people.

"Communication is always a challenge when people do not know sign language,” she claimed.

During the auditions, Uwimana showed up at the auditions venue accompanied by her interpreter Faina Kabayiza, who would help her interact with the judges.

Kabayiza and Uwimana have been good friends for years since the two were classmates during their days together in high school at Groupe Scolaire HVP Gatagara Huye where she completed her secondary studies in Mathematics, Economics and Computer Sciences (MCE).

Their friendship would not have gone far had Uwimana not taught Kabayiza the sign language so they could communicate with ease at school.

For Uwimana, making it in the beauty contest is a dream she has had from her younger age.

"In primary school, I would see young women going to participate in Miss Rwanda and I wished to one day participate in it too,” she said.

"Now that I made it, I want to share this experience with my fellow young women with disabilities and encourage them to participate in Miss Rwanda because they also have potential to make it like I did,” she added.

The contestant claims a lot still needs to be done to ensure inclusiveness of persons with disabilities by putting more effort in changing the community's mindset that disability is not inability.

"Persons with disabilities are able to achieve so much but it is discouraging for them so much when they are excluded. Some people in the community think that they are not capable of acquiring skills at school like others but it’s totally the opposite. That's why I want to raise awareness among concerned organisations to help me advocate for them so they can get access to education,” she said.

PWDs watchdogs’ upbeat

Uwimana was hailed by many, especially umbrellas that strive for the rights of people with disabilities, for her courage and confidence to join the race for Miss Rwanda 2022 crown despite her disability.

Aimee Frederic Rangira, the co-founder of Media for Deaf Rwanda told The New Times that Uwimana now needs to be facilitated in all means to prevent her from any challenges that could cost her the crown due to her disability.

However, he said, whether they PASS or not should not depend on their disability but on their performance like the rest of the contestants.

"They should not get the PASS because they have a disability. It shouldn’t be that way. They should work for it and I don’t think the jury should show them mercy during their deliberations just because of their disability. They should be treated like others,” Rangira suggested.

A task for organisers

There are already calls that Uwimana should be given a paid interpreter who would assist her to communicate with others during the rest of the contest as part of assisting her successfully participate in the contest

Meghan Nimwiza, the Communications Director of Miss Rwanda Organisation, said that Uwimana got PASS on merit and assured that, like other contestants, Uwimana will be facilitated in whatever she will need during the rest of her journey in Miss Rwanda 2022.

"Miss Rwanda is an inclusive beauty contest in all aspects. Uwimana passed not because she has disability but because she is able. We are ready to cater for everything that she will need throughout the contest, just like other contestants. She will compete without any challenge,” Nimwiza said.

"It’s our responsibility to make sure that each and every contestant is competing in a conducive environment. So finding her an interpreter is part of many things we will facilitate her with,” she added.