Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja says Nyege Nyege Festival can happen but security will be on the lookout for bad manners
The cancellation of the lifestyle event yesterday attracted a backlash from Ugandans on social media who accused the parliament of being more immoral, corrupt and unfit to judge Nyege Nyege Festival.
A meeting between the ministry of tourism and antiquities, the ministry of internal affairs, the ministry of gender, labour and social development, the ministry of ICT and national guidance, the ministry of ethics and integrity and the prime minister has reportedly ruled that the Nyege Nyege Festival should take place as scheduled.
The Nyege Nyege Festival was dealt a big blow when Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi speaking during Tuesday’s plenary said the event is a breeding ground for sexual immorality and called for its cancellation.
Opendi’s opinion was supported by the Speaker of parliament Anita Among who said the country will not support and promote gayism.
“We are talking about the morality of this country; we are talking about our children. You are trying to promote tourism at the expense of our children? We are not going to allow this function to take part,” Among said.
Efforts by the Minister of State for Tourism Martin Mugarra to defend the event as a hub of tourism met resistance from the House. Mugarra said over 8,000 foreign tourists have already booked tickets for the event.
State Minister for Ethics and Integrity Rose Akello said the directorate of ethics and police had considered the matter and held meetings with the organizers of the event called Talent Africa and Nile Breweries the sponsors.
“We had given them conditions and told them that if you follow those conditions then you can go ahead with the event but if you don’t, then the event won’t happen,” she said.
Among the conditions given to the organizers of the festival was that children shouldn’t be allowed to access the even and nudity shouldn’t be allowed.
The cancellation of the lifestyle even attracted a backlash from Ugandans on social media who accused the parliament of being more immoral, corrupt and unfit to judge Nyege Nyege Festival.
Nyege Nyege Festival is scheduled to take place between the 15th to 18th of September at Itanda Falls in Jinja City. However, the Prime Minister during the meeting said the event will happen under strict guidelines and security will be deployed to monitor.
