‘Foreigners bring lots of cash to exploit young girls,' Ssempa on Nyege Nyege

Pastor Ssempa doesn’t buy into the argument that canceling the festival will see the country miss out on foreign exchange.

The controversial man of God said that if the country could carry on after a two-year Covid lockdown, then it can surely survive without the festival that some people are saying should be scrapped because it promotes immorality.

“What are you talking about? Didn't they restrict movement and close businesses during Covid? Hasn't Europe banned shows due to Monkey Pox? [This reporter couldn’t independently verify this. In fact, the World Health Organisation has advised against banning festivals]. Don't play with us! I hear 8000 revelers. By the way, the world has changed. We are no longer easy to manipulate! Didn't the president institute a two-year lockdown,.. and all musicians could do was cry?” he said.

Revelers at Nyege Nyege Festival Pulse

The 54-year-old pastor, who leads Makerere Community Church and also preaches at Parliament, said people from across the world will fly in with lots of cash to exploit girls.

"What's so special about Nyege Nyege?... Nonsense... There are those who come with a lot of money, and they only come here with the motive of getting young girls. Sexual exploitation. We've seen it in Haiti. Whites come from Canada and Europe and they use money to buy poor people and they use them,” he said. “I thank the speaker for what she did.”

Pastor Martin Ssempa Pulse

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among said Tuesday that Members of Parliament (MPs) are going to block the annual festival which is slated for September 15-18 at Itanda Falls in Jinja.

The speaker, who was backed by a number of other MPs, said the festival promotes immorality and the country can’t promote tourism at the expense of children.

Woman MP Karenga District and ethics minister Rose Lilly Akello said: "It is an event which promotes immorality, and this immorality is something which is not wanted in our country…. They do a lot of immoral activities there .”

Some lawmakers like Sarah Opendi, the Tororo Woman MP, said the fete would expose people to monkeypox, as it is a recruitment ground for people into the LGBT community.

Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi Pulse

But the Health Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Ainebyoona said that there is no cause for worry.

“Bambi !!! We [Ministry of Health] have the capacity to control emerging and re-emerging epidemics. Hon. Opendi, we are tried and tested in handling epidemics. Don't worry about Monkey Pox, instead worry about how to recover our economy from the effects of COVID-19,” Ainebyoona said.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Wednesday cleared the 2022 Nyege Nyege Festival to go on as planned.