President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni government’s spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has rebuked Parliament of Uganda and its head, Speaker Anita Annet Among, for the manner in which they stop the 2022 edition of the Nyege Nyege Festival that was scheduled for next week at Itanda Falls.
Earlier in the day, during the plenary Speaker Among directed the ministries of tourism as well as that of ethics and integrity to ensure that Nyege Nyege Festival should not happen since, according to her, it would promote immorality.
Among’s directive was prompted by MPs led by Sarah Opendi, the Tororo District Woman, MP who argued that a lot of immorality happens at the Nyege Nyege Festival.
The directive was greeted with criticism from Ugandans who were planning to attend the festival.
Now, Ofwono Opondo, the government spokesperson, has suggested that Speaker and Among and other MPs should have considered the manner in which the festival was handled a few years ago.
The government spokesperson, whose contract was recently renewed, says the directives by Among were uncalled for an caused “unnecessary controversy” that could have been avoided.
Ofwono Opondo also warned Parliament against usurping the powers of law enforcement agencies, which powers the legislative arm of government does not have.
“But surely Parliament of Uganda and Speaker Anita Among could have done better by referring to how Nyege Nyege 2018 was handled successfully without causing this unnecessary controversy. Please don’t turn parliament into a law enforcement organ,” wrote Ofwono Opondo.
Earlier, Speaker Anita Among and fellow MPs described Nyege Nyege Festival as ‘a hub of immorality’ and ordered that it should be stopped. (Read Story Here).
