ZiinaFest moves from Busabala to Jahazi after police clears event

By Allen Kisakye

Police have finally cleared the fifth edition of the annual ZiinaFest. The party is organised by Galaxy FM.

This year, however, organisers have been forced by police to postpone the show that was scheduled for Sunday, December 9.

By Monday morning, organisers were still trying to get a license for another venue after police denied them a license to hold the even at One Love Beach, Busabala. The beach is owned by Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

“We first went to CPS, from where we were sent us to Naguru. Here Asuman Mugenyi sent us to Sabiti (Muzeyi, the Deputy Inspector General of Police) and that’s where the papers are so far,” the source said in the morning.

“We always get the license from CPS. But now they are now telling us to get fire extinguishers, ambulances and so on before getting license yet we had paid all service providers.”

In the afternoon though, Assuman Mugenyi cleared the event that has now been rescheduled to December 16 at Jahazi Pier in Munyonyo.

“Reference is made to the above subject matter (see correspondence dated 10^thDecember, 2018 herein attached.

The event organisers have pledged to work in consonance with the guidelines set earlier.

Please work with the organisers to secure the event in line with the commitments made and the guidelines issued,” Mugenyi instructs the commander, Kampala Metropolitan Police in a letter dated December 10.

On Sunday, MP Kyagulanyi said:  “Today was supposed to be Galaxy FM’s ZzinaFest at One Love Beach, Busabala. The police refused to clear the event, for the sole fact that the venue belongs to Kyagulanyi. This is not just an attack on me, but on everyone who would have earned a penny out of this show, and the many Ugandans who would have gathered to have a good time in their country. We shall certainly overcome all this.”

Last week Sunday, Bobi Wine was set to perform in Gulu but the Kyarenga Extra concert was stopped by police, who claimed organizers never got clearance. Anti-riot police officers earlier in the day destroyed several banners and posters within Gulu Municipality that were used to advertise Bobi Wine’s concert.