Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has commended the country’s security agencies for their efforts in ensuring the safety of both local and international ‘suspected sinners’ who disregarded travel advisories from the British High Commission and the US embassy to participate in the recently concluded Nyege Nyege festival in Jinja city.
In a statement released on November 15, 2023, President Museveni expressed his appreciation, noting that this year’s festival concluded smoothly without any security issues, even in the face of travel advisories and terrorism alerts issued by the UK and USA.
“I want to congratulate the Security Forces (UPDF, Uganda Police and the intelligence services) for successfully protecting the suspected sinners (Abasiisi) of Nyege Nyege Festival in Jinja until their function was over without a single incident. This shows you the strength of the Uganda security system to be able to guard such a long pre-announced massive public function, the threats of the terrorists notwithstanding,” he said.
Mr. Museveni acknowledged that some members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) had sent infiltrators to disrupt the Nyege Nyege Festival. He said “It is true that the pigs of ADF in Congo had sent a few infiltrators to try to disrupt the function (Nyege Nyege Festival) of the suspected sinners.”
Additionally, Museveni criticized the United States and Britain for advising their citizens against attending Nyege Nyege Festival, dismissing their terrorism warnings, calling them ‘mistake makers.’
“I hear that the panicking Americans and British sent out what they call advisories to their citizens not to come to Uganda. These are mistake makers. If the situation was so bad, it would be us to advise people not to come to Uganda, not the British and the Americans,” Mr. Museveni castigated Americans and the British.
Also Read: US issues travel advisory for Uganda over increased terror threats
President Museveni emphasized that in the event of an error, Uganda possesses the capability to manage it effectively. He asserted that the advisories from certain entities are merely another manifestation of interference in Uganda’s internal affairs.
“If the situation was so bad, it would be us to advise people not to come to Uganda, not the British and the Americans. We know what we are doing, always. Even if a mistake occurs, we know how to handle it. These advisories by some of these actors are another form of interference in our internal affairs by these elements,” he said.
Assailants from the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on Oct. 17 attacked a honeymooning couple in Uganda‘s Queen Elizabeth National Park and shot them dead alongside their Ugandan guide.
As per the Uganda Police, a total of 45 suspects were apprehended in connection with theft during the recently concluded Nyege Nyege Festival, involving the theft of 20 mobile phones and one car.
