CNN
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One of East Africa’s most popular music festivals has been allowed to take place after parliamentarians tried to ban it for “promoting gays” in the country.
Ugandan Prime Minister Lovina Nabanja said the Niege Niege Festival will take place next week, but under “strict guidelines”. Quoted in local media reports.
“This event (Nyege Nyege) will continue but under strict guidelines. It attracts thousands of foreign tourists. As the country recovers from the effects of Covid-19 So, you can’t miss this opportunity.
The four-day festival will be the first after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. “nyege nyege” can also be impulsive when loosely translated in the country’s official language, Luganda, but it can also mean horny in the Swahili language commonly spoken in the region.
Lawmakers on Tuesday expressed concern about the festival and its impact on “sexual immorality” in the country, and planned to call it off.
“It will attract all kinds of people from all over the world and bring all kinds of non-African, non-Ugandan behavior to our communities,” MP Sara Opendi said in parliament, saying the festival would bring young people into the world. accused of “recruiting”. LGBT community.
However, Ugandan Tourism Minister Martin Mugarra defended the event at home, saying 8,000 foreigners had already booked tickets. Declared that the festival would not be held.
“We are not going to allow that feature. How do you sell tickets at the expense of people’s children? You are promoting gays in Uganda,” she said from the official chair without proof. said in. “The function should not be done. Next item!”
Uganda’s Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Rose Lily Akero, told parliament that the ministry and the police had previously met with the organizers of Niege Niege and gave them conditions. Children under the age of 18, obscene clothing, and immoral activities were to be prohibited.
Outside of home, however, she doubled down on her opposition to the Nyege Nyege taking place. “Congress has resolved that they are taking underage children and doing so many immoral activities there that they must stop.”
Organizers unveiled nearly 300 performers spread across seven stages at Itanda Falls in Zinga, a picturesque location on the banks of the Nile.
Charges of “promoting” homosexuality have been leveled against Nyege Nyege before, and the final event of 2019 was temporarily canceled.
Akero’s predecessor on the Ethics Committee, the now-deceased Catholic priest Father Simon Locodo, famously banned the controversial festival, but was overruled by another pastor.
CNN reached out to the organizers for comment but did not receive a response.
Festival co-director Derek Deble promised a “very special” event in an interview with an East African newspaper in February. We will do everything in our power to reward our fans for sticking with us through the years, and to celebrate the growth of our community of music and art lovers.”
The official Twitter of the festival after Wednesday’s go-go The account tweeted the meme TikTok star Khaby Lame: “Don’t get naked.”
Source: www.cnn.com
