Some concerned Ugandans have taken to social media to express their disappointment with the latest initiative by the country’s tourism ministry, which launched curvaceous women as a product that can attract visitors to the East African nation.

On Tuesday, the state minister for tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda named a new beauty pageant dubbed ‘Miss Curvy Uganda’ which he described as a contest to select sexy curvaceous women that will promote Uganda as a destination.

“We have naturally endowed nice looking women that are amazing to look at. Why don’t we use these people as a strategy to promote our tourism industry?” Kiwanda said.

Ugandan activist swiftly reacted to the new product, pointing out that this new initiative objectifies women’s bodies as sex objects.

A petition to have the pageant cancelled has been started, and is gathering steam.

“I personally feel attacked. This is degrading of women. In a country where women are grabbed by men while walking on the streets and now they have legalized it by making them tourist attractions is not fair,” said Primrose Murungi, who started the petition.

Murungi also wants the minister to offer a public apology for insulting women with this initiative.

“They are objectifying us and reducing women to nothing. Please sign this petition for ministry of tourism to take down the miss curvy challenge and offer an apology to the public as well.