Nyege Nyege: Jinja City leadership quashes immorality claims

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As has been the norm for the last three or so editions of the much-controversial Nyege Nyege festival of the arts, this year's edition, slated for November 14 to 17, faced backlash, as well, this time from religious leader - Apostle Grace Lubega, of the Phaneroo Ministries.

Lubega, during a crusade organised in Jinja, asserted that "Nyege Nyege needs to be kicked out of Jinja", citing immorality and ungodliness.

He added that, "a time has come when people will try to enter the gates of Jinja city with Nyege Nyege, but the spiritual environment won't allow them in".

Sarah Babyerabira - Senior Commercial Officer, Jinja City, speaking during the press conference. (Photo by Reagan Ssempijja)

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Talent Africa offices in Kololo, Sarah Babyerabira - Senior Commercial Officer, Jinja City, reassured the organisers of the city's full support towards the festival.

Babyerabira added that "considering the commercial benefits and change of livelihoods that come with Nyege Nyege festival, labeling it an immoral event would be really farfetched. The advantages of this festival to us as a city outweigh any negatives that might be mentioned at large. I, therefore, pledge full support from the political leadership of Jinja city, and we are excited for the festival.”

Francis Nyende, the Uganda Breweries Marketing Manager Mainstream Spirits at the Nyege Nyege media launch. (Photo by Reagan Ssempijja)

Bernard Mukama, a religious leader in Jinja, also labelled the immorality and spiritual initiation claims towards Nyege Nyege "baseless and lack biblical evidence"

"The people moving these assumptions forget that everything that happens under the sun is a creation of God, Nyege Nyege inclusive. There is no biblical basis to confirm that the festival is ungodly or anything like that. I, however, urge the organisers of Nyege Nyege to find more understandable ways of packaging and branding the festival so that people do not get the message misconstrued, especially with the name of the festival," added Pastor Mukama.

About the festival itself, this year’s edition will include a new, carefully curated, “Nyege In The City" daytime program, with experiences spread across Jinja City. “They will include guided tours, fine dining experiences, water-based activities on the Nile and cultural experiences, culminating into the party experience at the festival grounds," said Derek Debru, CEO Nyege Nyege.

Derek Debru, CEO Nyege Nyege speaking during the press conference. (Photo by Reagan Ssempijja)

This, according to Debru, is in place to accommodate the main festival grounds being closed from 8:00am to 3:00pm for security sweeps to ensure the safety of all festival-goers.

For the main festival action, organised at Jinja Golf Course, Aly Allibhai – the organizer, noted that this year, the Afrogalactic-themed festival will have seven stages, with the dark-star stage returning after a while.

"We shall also have the Spirit of Uganda Stage which will showcase Uganda’s multiculturalism, the main stage, Hakuna Kulala Stage, the Uganda Waragi Stage, and the return of the Reggae stage headlined by special guest Cali P from Jamaica," Allibhai added.

Aly Allibhai – the organizer speaking during the press conference. (Photo by Reagan Ssempijja)

At the presser, the artist lineup was also unveiled, including both international and local acts. Some of the local acts include social media sensation, Hozambe, Zex Bilangilangi, Pia Pounds, Recho Ray, Kenneth Mugabi, Alidekki Brian, Denesi, and Djs Alisha, Ssese, Vans, Melvyn DJ, Janja and Faisa. The international acts include Soweto’s Selector RMBO, Tash LC, Baccardi house OG Dadaman, French folk pioneer Emmanuele Parennin, Norwegian folk noise artist Stuurle Garland, and Nkisi from DRC.