The Ugandan Parliament have decided to cancel the Nyege
Nyege annual music festival over immoral behavior.
The Ugandan parliament has
directed that the Nyege Nyege festival, an annual popular music concert,
scheduled to take place in nine days’ time in the city of Jinja, east of the
capital, Kampala, should be cancelled.
One MP said the concert was a
“breeding ground for sexual immorality”. State Minister for Tourism
Martin Magara however defended the event describing it as a hub for tourism. He
said more than 8,000 foreign tourists had already booked tickets for the event.
Parliamentary speaker Anita Among
said parliament would not allow the promotion of tourism at the expense of
children. The ministry of ethics had given permission for the festival to take
place on grounds that no children were allowed in and that no-one goes to the
venue naked.
Nyege Nyege has been a
big draw for music fans in the region and beyond, it showcases various artists
from across the continent along with those in the diaspora. The festival,
which would be marking its seventh edition, has often attracted controversy. In
2018, it was cancelled on grounds that it was promoting promiscuity but it was
allowed it to proceed later after a public outcry.
