The Ugandan parliament has moved to halt Nyege Nyege Festival.
The festival is due to kick off in just eight days, with thousands of music fans travelling to the site in Uganda. Situated in Jinja, by the banks of the Nile, the event was due to host over 300 artists, spread across seven stages.
A hugely ambitious undertaking, Nyege Nyege Festival was designed to celebration pan-African achievements, while also platforming new and emerging artists. Sadly, it doesn’t seem as though this will now be taking place.
Tororo Woman MP Hon Sarah Opendi has led opposition to the event, which she claims “is a breeding ground for sexual immorality”. As a result, the Uganda parliament have moved to halt Nyege Nyege Festival, only days before the gates were due to swing open.
Here’s confirmation.
Parliament has stopped the ‘Nyege Nyege’ festival, an annual social event scheduled to take place next week in Jinja. Tororo Woman MP Hon Sarah Opendi says the event is a breeding ground for sexual immorality. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/qVbazJvlO0
— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) September 6, 2022
The move has caused widespread outrage, with many pointing out the hypocrisy of Uganda’s political leaders. Dr Catherine Kyobutungi labelled the Parliament “the most immoral gathering of people in Uganda…”
The most immoral gathering of people in Uganda (corrupt, thieving, selfish, useless leeches) has banned the Nyege Nyege music festival for the sake of "our children" (whom we have failed to parent?)
Uganda parliamentarians take the cake for moral puritanism (in public)
🚮🚮🚮🚮🚮 https://t.co/A75mLJWPD6mdash; Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi #Covid19Vaccinated (@CKyobutungi) September 6, 2022
Broadcaster Charles Denzel Mwiyeretsi pointed out the Nyege Nyege is also a place “for many people to make gainful money through honest employment… All those service providers through entertainment, catering etc.”
Rubbish. Does she also realize Nyege Nyege is also a “breeding ground” for many people to make gainful money through honest employment in this economy? All those service providers through entertainment, catering etc … https://t.co/As1Hk69cNn
— Charles Denzel Mwiyeretsi (@DenzelUG) September 6, 2022
In response, Nyege Nyege organisers have commented: “Let’s hope we shall soon trend for creating jobs, boosting tourism, improving the creative sector in Uganda and sharing Ugandan arts and culture to the world. We regret some citizen are concerned and we urge them to read our mission statement to understand the values we stand for.”
Nyege Nyege Festival is scheduled to run between September 15th – 18th.
