- Title: Ugandan festival banned over sex, homosexuality claims reinstated
- Date: 5th September 2018
- Summary: KAMPALA, UGANDA (FILE) (REUTERS) MAN LOOKING AT NEWSPAPERS NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING (English): "MUSEVENI SPEAKS ON MOBILE MONEY TAXES" VARIOUS OF MAN USING MOBILE PHONE
- Embargoed: 19th September 2018 17:28
- Keywords: festival Nyege Nyege ban nudity homosexuality
- Location: JINJA AND KAMPALA, UGANDA
- City: JINJA AND KAMPALA, UGANDA
- Country: Uganda
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0058WCOFH3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ugandan authorities have been forced to withdraw a ban on this year's Nyege Nyege Festival, after the move sparked public outcry, with many Ugandans criticizing the government on social media.
The country's minister for ethics and integrity, Simon Lokodo had cancelled the festival on Tuesday (September 04), linking it to devil worship, nudity, open sex and accusing organisers of using the event to promote homosexuality in Uganda.
"We weighed this and we found that it is probably delicate and not timely for us to allow this event to take off. We heard from people, natives of the place including the civil society organisation members there, the public itself, the faith based organisation and they told us that this is close to devil worship," said Lokodo.
Government officials later held a meeting with organisers and agreed that the festival would go ahead as planned but under certain conditions. It is not clear what these conditions are.
Nyege Nyege which was started in 2015 is held in the southern town of Jinja, on the shores of the River Nile and brings together over 200 African and international artists to perform for audiences.
The event also holds workshops for creatives and gives visitors a chance to experience the Nile and other tourist attractions in the country.
Nyege Nyege is said to have a significant boost to the local economy, as hotel bookings surge during the festival period.
Uganda is one of 36 countries in Africa where homosexuality is illegal.
Like most of sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda is highly religious and socially conservative. Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is common and politicians have long tried to pass legislation that denies basic rights to the LGBT community.
Godiva Akullo is a lawyer and activist based in Kampala.
"Ugandans need to now become aware of the fact that, because our leaders have realised that Ugandans for the most part identify with the hatred of homosexuals. Every time they want to tarnish someone's image, if they want to tarnish the reputation of an event or whatever they tag it a homosexual event which is exactly what he (Lokodo) was trying to with this Nyege Nyege event and yet, of course, the truth of the matter from everybody who has attended this event in the past is that people are going there to listen to music, to dance to drink and have fun which is what young Ugandans like to do," she said.
Ugandans have staged protests against President Yoweri Museveni's administration in recent months after the country imposed a levy on social media access which was widely resisted as oppressive and aimed at curbing government criticism.
The alleged torture of prominent opposition lawmaker Robert Kyagulanyi last month by authorities also irked Ugandans. The popular musician known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is known for his scathing criticism of Museveni, sometimes delivered in his songs.
"When I see such events like Nyege Nyege being stopped by the minister, harassing of young politicians like Kyagulanyi and imposing unfair policies like social media tax, I think there is a negative impact the old people are trying to put onto the young generation which is not a good idea in my perspective, so they should revise policies they are making and involve the youth in the making of such policies," said Kampala resident, Isaac Musimenta.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion and personally I have been to Nyege Nyege and it is not an event I would really recommend someone to go to," said Pearl Muhoza, another Kampala resident.
The four day festival which starts on Thursday (September 06) is expected to attract about 10,000 visitors. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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