Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAAMINER | Last year, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Anita Among, and other Members of Parliament nearly halted the Nyege Nyege festival. It required the intervention of the Prime Minister to ensure the event proceeded, ultimately resulting in a successful outcome.

To avoid such interventions this year, a recent joint planning meeting between the government and private sector was held at the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity, in preparation for the 8th edition of the Nyege Nyege festival, scheduled for November 9-12 in Jinja City.

Chaired by the Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Rose Lilly Akello, and attended by representatives from Uganda Breweries Limited, the festival’s primary sponsor, as well as Nyege Nyege, Talent Africa, Busoga Kingdom, Uganda Police, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, and others, the meeting addressed various concerns.

Stakeholders reviewed last year’s festival, including aspects like security and ethical considerations, before discussing plans to enhance this year’s edition.

Sources disclosed that the stakeholders established a “National Organizing Committee” for the festival, which will convene its inaugural meeting next week to collaborate, expand, and further boost the festival’s already positive socio-economic impact on Uganda.

Nyege Nyege annually draws thousands of Ugandans and foreigners to the banks of the River Nile, promoting the country as a party and hospitality destination while introducing tourists to various other travel options available in Uganda.

According to the organizers, in 2019, the festival brought in around 13,000 attendees, including 4,000 from outside Uganda. Last year, approximately 15,000 people attended, with 10,000 Ugandans, 3,000 Kenyans, and 2,000 international guests.