Kampala RCC wants children banned from music shows
Jan 04, 2024
"We have also recommended to IGP to put it in guidelines going forward that children under 13 years should never be banned from these events," Burora said.
The Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Rubaga division, Anderson Burora addressing media on under age children banned from accessing music shows (Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)
Isaac Nuwagaba
Journalist @New Vision
_____________________________ The youth in a music concern enjoying life at night at a music concert at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kololo Kampala
Kampala Resident City Commissioner (RCC) in charge of Rubaga division Anderson Burora is calling for a law that bars children under 13 years from accessing music shows and concerts. He says this will fight increased moral decadence among the youth.
Burora’s concerns emanate from observations in the petition that district security officials filed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola.
The petition demands a ban on children from concerts because they are exposed to seeing adults taking alcohol, smoking, dressed in erotic attires, and performing nudity dances on stage, which, according to the officials, are unfriendly to the children.
While addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday, Burora challenged the Government to formulate a law that bans children from attending music concerts due to immoral acts that happen there.
“Some parents come with toddlers, [or] very young children and get drunk and forget their children who get exposed to immoral acts by errant adults engaging in mature behaviour that is unfriendly to children,” he said.
"We have also recommended to IGP to put it in guidelines going forward that children under 13 years should never be banned from these events," Burora added.
“Events where intoxicants are taken, prostitution glorified, and indecent dressing embraced inconvenience, children who are still schooling and need mentorship and upbringing in life,” he said.
He, however, said that children should only be allowed to attend religious and cultural concerts that promote the culture, customs, and beliefs of Africans which have viewer discretion and parental guides.
“For religious and cultural concerts, there are characters and behaviour which are friendly and lessons to young people and children, especially in churches, cultural gatherings, and educational events in schools and universities,” he said.
Children are the most affected when a stampede happens like what happened at Freedom City when 11 people died on 2023 New Year's Day in Namasuba, Kampala.
“In the recently concluded ‘Enkuuka Tobongoota’ End of Year music show at Mengo on December 31, 2023, 20 children below the age of 8 years and 10 years got lost from their parents and were reported to Police,” Burora said.
Warning against politicking during music shows
Burora warned promoters, musicians, and comedians who have turned music shows and concerts into political battlefields.
“We think that Bivuulu promoters and organisers should stick to organizsing music and nothing else because your supporters expect to hear from your music and not politics,” he said.
"On that account, we have compiled a list of six promoters, two musicians, eight comedians, and Tik Tokers to IGP for his consideration going forward, when he is clearing their requests for them to hold music events in any part of the country," Burora added.
“Before Ochola takes action, he should engage them because based on their consistencies, we felt as security officials that these acts were intended starting from Mbarara when Musician Azawi bitterly exchanged with Ray G,” he said.
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