PM Nabbanja, Speaker Among Lock Horns Over Nyege Nyege

The speaker of Parliament Anita Among has clashed with the prime Minister Robbinah Nabbanja over the 'Nyege Nyege’ festival.

After a two-year break due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the festival which draws revellers from across the globe is set to be held at Itanda falls in Jinja, starting September 15-18, 2022.

However, on Tuesday, the festival faced a mini-setback after parliament superintended over by Among ordered its cancellation of the festival on the pretext of protecting the moral fabric of the country.

But 24 hours later on Wednesday, an interministerial meeting chaired by Nabbanja gave a greenlight to the festival but under strict restrictions and guidelines.

Later during plenary on Wednesday, Among expressed displeasure with the government's stance, insisting that she will not backtrack on the decision taken by parliament regarding the festival.

"Honourable members the house is requesting that whatever is happening must be put to halt and until tomorrow when we agree, we should be able to speak as a country...I'm not about to withdraw and I will not withdraw," said Among. 

Following parliament's decision, a section of Ugandans took to social media to express anger at the MPs for majoring on minor issues such as on how people should have fun or be entertained and ignoring the major issues currently affecting the country like the severe hunger in Karamoja which has already claimed over 1000 lives, mudslides in Kasese which have claimed 16 lives, rising inflation etc.

Justifying the government's decision for giving the green light to the festival, Nabbanja said the organisers had already sunk in over Shs 700 million in pre-event organising and that many revellers had already purchased tickets.

Meanwhile, Justine Kasule Lumumba, the minister of General Duties, said Nabbanja and Among will meet on Thursday to decide on a way forward.

Chris Baryomunsi, the minister of Information, Communication Technology, and National Guidance, said that there was no need for parliament to appear to be in conflict with the government. He appealed to parliament to wait for the meeting between the executive and the office of the speaker on the matter.

~URN