Ssenkoto Joram
The Parliament of Uganda has today stopped the Nyege Nyege festival that was scheduled to take place next week in Jinja.
This was announced in the today’s sitting as the Parliament ordered the Ministries of Tourism and Ethics and Integrity to call off the event.
Tororo Woman MP Hon. Sarah Opendi said the event is a breeding ground for sexual immortality.
Speaker @AnitahAmong on Nyege Nyege:
We are talking about 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. #PlenaryUg pic.twitter.com/lrHJud9mjv
— Parliament of Uganda (@Parliament_Ug) September 6, 2022
There were efforts by the Minister of State for Tourism Hon. Martin Mugarra to defend the event as a hub of tourism but met resistance from the House.
Mugarra said over 8,000 foreigner tourists have already booked tickets for the event.
It should be noted that two years ago, the event was at one time called off by the late Ethics Minister Fr. Simon Lokodo but two days later the events manager were given greenlight by the Interior Minister Jeje Odong.
The event has been under scrutiny and received backlash since the first edition in 2015 with reports affiliating it with sexual immortality.
