The long wait is over. Miss Uganda is back. It is about time we buried the controversies of last year and moved on. For Joyce Church, the Director Performance Production, the organizers of Miss Uganda, it looks like the storm is over and time to carry on the mantle. Addressing a press conference at Oak Restaurant on Hannington Road behind Crested Towers, a composed Church minced no words, confidently announcing, "I am here, I am back."

"[A year] can mean to be such a long time especially so if you are waiting for such a coveted occasion as a beauty pageant. Well, the wait ought to be no more. There has been a slight delay to launch the contest because I was held up by my son who plays professional football. He had to sign a deal with a soccer academy in the UK," Church said.

Held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala - the same venue for this year's event - Miss Uganda 2009 ended with controversy following Maria Namiiro's win and an undercover expose by a journalist.

The 21-year-old Namiiro's win came as a shock to some as she was the first Ugandan based abroad to win Miss Uganda. Namiiro is based in Surrey, UK and she is also the 2009 Miss Uganda-UK.

The good news is that this scenario will not reoccur this year. According to Church, it only happened because there was a binding agreement which the previous organizer of Miss Uganda, Solaya signed with Namiiro allowing her to take part in the beauty contest.

"I couldn't have told her that I am a license holder so you cannot take part in Miss Uganda," she said.

Despite that, Miss Uganda remains "open to all Ugandans no matter where they live."

Church's vision for Miss Uganda is that every Ugandan woman around the globe has an opportunity to represent Uganda at the Miss World final, irrespective of tribe, colour, religion and location.

"Doing this ensures that beauty contest standards remain high and that the chosen girl is worthy of attendance at the Miss World final."

So, who will step up to the challenge and fill Maria's shoes come September 25? The search begins in August with the launch of Kampala and regional auditions, from where the wheat will be separated from the chaff.

The requirements still stand: 17 and 24 years of age, height 5'7", intelligent, articulate and beautiful.

This year's winner will walk away with 1,000 pounds cash prize, plus a fully paid trip to London. She will also represent Uganda at the Miss World 2010 pageant on October 30 in China. This is made possible from sponsors Nile Breweries and Coca Cola.