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Kadaga Clashes with Busoga Bishop Over Nyege Nyege

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Kadaga Clashes with Busoga Bishop Over Nyege Nyege
Nyege Nyege Festival takes place from November 14 to 17 in Jinja

The latest controversy unfolded during the Busoga Prayers, organized by the Busoga Consortium for Development on October 20 in Luuka District, where First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli District Woman MP, Rebecca Kadaga, clashed with religious leaders over the festival.

As the annual Nyege Nyege Festival draws closer in November, preparations are in full swing in Jinja, Eastern Uganda. However, the festival, which attracts thousands of revelers from across the globe, continues to face staunch opposition from religious leaders.

The latest controversy unfolded during the Busoga Prayers, organized by the Busoga Consortium for Development on October 20 in Luuka District, where First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli District Woman MP, Rebecca Kadaga, clashed with religious leaders over the festival.

During the prayers, Rt Rev Hannington Ssuubi, bishop of Busoga East, condemned the Nyege Nyege Festival, arguing that it tarnishes Busoga's image and corrupts the morals of children.

"There is an annual event called Nyege Nyege. It gives Busoga bad publicity. We condemn it, and it shouldn’t happen in Busoga again," the bishop stated, further alleging that the festival promotes immoral behavior, citing the discovery of condoms at the event venue.

Kadaga, a vocal advocate of the festival, firmly rejected these criticisms. She defended Nyege Nyege, pointing out its role in boosting the local economy and promoting tourism.

“I want to set the record straight. The entrance fee for Nyege Nyege is Shs300,000. Which child in Busoga can afford that? Let’s not misrepresent facts,” Kadaga retorted.

She emphasized the festival's positive impact on the region's tourism sector, highlighting the full occupancy of hotels in surrounding areas like Iganga, Mayuge, Jinja, and Njeru during the event.

"Many people earn money during this time, and we cannot afford to lose this opportunity for development in Busoga," Kadaga stressed.

This clash echoes previous controversies surrounding the festival. In 2022, Uganda’s Parliament nearly banned Nyege Nyege on moral grounds, but a last-minute intervention from the government allowed it to proceed.

Recently, Jinja’s new Overseer of Born Again Churches, Bishop Richard Kyendakulya, vowed to prevent the festival from happening again, attributing its continuation to a lack of strong faith leadership in the region.

"Now that I am in office, I will not allow it to happen again," Kyendakulya declared during his September inaugural speech.

Kadaga, known for her unapologetic stance, has frequently locked horns with religious leaders over the festival.

Last year, she clashed with both the Katukiro of Busoga Kingdom, Dr Joseph Muvawala, and Jinja’s District Kadhi, Sheikh Ismail Adi Basoga, who also opposed Nyege Nyege.

Despite these annual confrontations, the Ugandan government continues to back the festival, acknowledging the substantial economic boost it brings to the country.

Held at the source of the Nile in Jinja, the event attracts a global audience and plays a vital role in supporting local businesses.

As tensions simmer between religious leaders and proponents of Nyege Nyege, it remains unclear if the festival will face more opposition this year.

However, with strong government support and undeniable economic benefits, the festival seems poised to remain a key fixture in Uganda's cultural landscape.

The Busoga Prayers, where Kadaga serves as Patron, are meant to foster unity among political and religious leaders. However, the event has instead exposed a deep divide over the future of Nyege Nyege in the region.

Whether these prayers will help bridge the gap and find common ground remains to be seen, as the debate over the festival’s moral and economic implications persists.

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