Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has commended the country’s security forces for their successful management of the Nyege Nyege festival, a gathering that had been dubbed by some as a congregation of “suspected sinners” in Jinja.
President Museveni, in an official statement from State House Uganda on Wednesday, November 15, expressed his gratitude to the Security Forces, including the UPDF, Uganda Police, and the intelligence services.
Museveni highlighted the impressive feat of safeguarding the event despite the significant challenges posed by the pre-announced, massive public function and the looming threat of terrorism.
“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,” the statement read in part.
The president did not shy away from acknowledging the attempts of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Congo, referring to them as “pigs,” who had reportedly sent infiltrators to disrupt the Nyege Nyege festival.
The president dismissed advisories issued by the United States and the United Kingdom, calling the advisories the result of “mistake makers” who misunderstood the situation.
“It is true that the pigs of ADF in Congo had sent a few infiltrators to try and disrupt the function of the suspected sinners. Indeed, I hear that the panicky Americans and British sent out what they call advisories to their citizens not to come to Uganda. These are mistake makers,” reads the statement.
“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,” Museveni declared.
The Ugandan President accused certain global actors of interference in Uganda’s internal affairs, particularly regarding terrorism.
“Moreover, part of the terrorism in Africa is either created or conserved by some of the actors that try to be global policemen,” Museveni said.
The United States and United Kingdom’s diplomatic missions in Uganda had issued a warning to their respective nationals not to attend crowded events, including the widely attended Nyege Nyege festival, because of the terror threat in Uganda.
The United States issued a similar warning telling its citizens not to attend the festival citing security concerns.
The Nyege Nyege festival had its eighth edition in Jinja from Thursday, November 9, until Saturday November 12.
