The Nyege Nyege festival has been given the green light to go on as planned but under strict conditions.
Uganda Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja approved the festival on Wednesday, despite calls to cancel it on moral grounds.
Following a meeting with various leaders and stakeholders, Nabbanja stated that tickets had already been sold and that the event represented a good opportunity for the country’s tourism sector.
“The event [Nyege Nyege] will go on but under strict guidelines. It attracts thousands of foreign tourists; we can’t miss out on this opportunity at a time when the country is recovering from the effects of Covid-19,” she said.
The directive came just hours after parliament canceled the event due to moral concerns. Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi sparked the parliamentary debate about the carnival by claiming that it was a breeding ground for sexual immorality.
“Parliament has stopped the ‘Nyege Nyege’ festival, an annual social event scheduled to take place next week in Jinja… Opendi says the event is a breeding ground for sexual immorality,” the Ugandan parliament tweeted.
The festival will start on September 15 through to September 18, 2022, on the shores of River Nile in Jinja District with a spectacular view of the Itanda Falls.
According to organisers, the 2022 edition will have a special emphasis on visual art installations and a number of activities have been introduced, including camping, sunset cruises and rafting.
