By Mary Asujo
Parliament will not reverse earlier position that the Nyege Nyege Festival should not be held as planned -speaker Anita Among said on Thursday.
The Speaker re-echoed the statement in her communication to the House while presiding over the House and warned that nobody will ever run the house as long as am still the speaker.
“I am an elected speaker voted by all the MPs of parliament on the festival. We have done our part as the legislative and the executive should also do their part,” added Among.
The speaker’s tough stance follows Tororo District Woman MP, Sarah Opendi’s attempt to move a motion (without notice) on Tuesday, for Parliament’s resolution to ban Nyege Nyege Festival in this country. However, the matter has not been conclusively handled.
The proponents of the event which has been criticised as one promoting immotalarity and branded as “evil” claim it boost tourism in the country owing to a number of foreigners who attend. Opendi said that tourism and culture can be promoted in other ways than through the Nyege Nyege festival.
While responding to the concerns raised by some of the legislators on Nyege Nyege Festival, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi insisted that the position of the NRM Government on such festivals like Nyege Nyege is that; ‘Ugandans should freely enjoy their country but within the law.’
Hon. Baryomunsi asked Parliament to grant the Executive more time to consult stakeholders about Nyege Nyege. He also confirmed that the executive is handling the matter and will ensure that there is thorough regulation of the event.
The Minister said that the position of NRM government is that Ugandans should enjoy their country, provided they are not breaking the law.
Bugiri Municipality, Asuman Basalirwa demanded that the Executive table the Government Position on festivals like Nyege Nyege. He also asked the Minister of Ethics & integrity to table its position on matters of that nature.