The Uganda Police Force have prohibited any form of political rallies, open sex and homosexuality at Nyege Nyege Cultural Festival.
The event will take place starting this Thursday 5th to 8th of September 2019 at Nile Discovery Beach in Njeru town council, in Buikwe district. The four day fest aims at promoting Ugandan culture and local music.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Deputy Spokesperson Polly Namaye said they are ready to monitor and secure the event and the organizers have already agreed to ensure maximum adherence to guidelines stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between them and the force.
The Police mouthpiece revealed that they will not allow any narcotic substances and any form of drug abuse at the event and the organizers will ensure that the festival is not turned into a political event.
“Organizers will provide guidelines to the revelers prohibiting any use of prohibited drugs at the venue, acts of homosexuality, open sex and any other acts considered immoral because the Ugandan culture is a conservative one,” said Namaye.
“Police will carry out a number of activities in addition to vetting and accrediting. These activities include but are not limited to: covert and overt deployments, intelligence led patrols (foot and motorized), traffic control, aerial surveillance, and access control. The Counter terrorism and Fire and Rescue officers shall be at hand to support this operation.”
Some performers pull out:
According to organizers, the festival will have five stages – the Main Stage, Bell Jamz Stage, 154 Stage River Bay, Dark Star Stage and Eternal Disco.
The choice of Team No Sleep’s Sheebah Karungi as the festival’s headliner is still questionable but she will be joined by 300 other performers from over 30 different countries. These include Juan Atkins, Josey Rebelle, Shyboi, Santi, DTM Funk, Sisso, Slikback, Duke and MCZO among others.
Musicians aside, a long list of celebrated local and international DJs such as Naselow, Sir Aludah, Selector Jay, Marcelle among others are all lined up to keep partiers on their feet all weekend.
Meanwhile, artistes from the Green Ferry Music has bowed out of the festival citing circumstances that are beyond them.
The artistes include Bushali, Ice Nova and Dr Nganji.
“Regardless of how much effort the promoters have made to make sure we get in, we didn’t make it. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you again at the next scheduled Nyege Nyege festival,” Green Ferry Management stated.
