Ethics and Integrity Minister Simon Lokodo
After a scare that the highly ‘anticipated’ Nyege Nyege festival had been cancelled, it did happen. In a grand fashion moreover. A four-day extravaganza in the wilderness.
Away from the city and its chaos, it was the perfect escape for the party wilderbeests. Give Ugandans beer (lots of it), some music, create some mad hype and they are sorted. Whatever beer has put together, no man can asunder.
Not even the great Lokodo, Minister of Ethics and Integrity. For a man that has made it his earth’s calling to micromanage all the happenings in people’s leisure time, it was always a matter of time before he swung into action.When Ugandans want to party, your moral lecture can wait. Many things, including heaven can wait.
But on this random day, after months of silence, Loky resurrects to ban the festival. iyiii how? His reasons were simple. You people want to overdose on ‘secks’, romp with animals and oh yes, mbu the gays had lined up interviews to recruit new talent. Imagine that audacity. Apparently, the devil won and he lost. Gerrarahia Reverend Father.
After the public outcry, the festival was back on. The noise was too loud, people were overly psyched, hotels booked in advance. It was all written in stone. Jinja was about to explode with life and its offerings. Business ought to peak with an influx of eager-to spend people.
The tourism industry was going to get a lift obviously. Fr Lokodo must know that issues to do with morals and ethics go beyond people’s dressing and whatever they choose to do consciously with their time.
Maybe someone needs to give him a memo .I was particularly angered by this, especially the insinuation that Ugandans are sex-crazed maniacs who will take it upon themselves to shack up anywhere, even at the Jinja Road traffic lights. Give people a break.
It is no secret that people are stressed out with all the vuyos happening in the country but trust me no one is going out to a festival to romp with animals. And even if consenting adults decided that they were to have sex, which is apparently a big shock to the Reverend that people do this under the sun, it is not taboo. People have a right to enjoy their privacy.Loky, please look for other hobbies.
The success of Nyege Nyege, which celebrates culture, music and art should alarm authorities about the potential of the arts and entertainment fields. I
t does not take rocket science to see how arts can open up opportunities for tourism and business of all kinds. It improves livelihoods so everyone, especially those with misplaced priorities can use their energy and time to grow the Arts. Uganda is literally a gold mine, not PornHub headquarters.
