Religious and political leaders in Uganda have disagreed over the hosting of the popular music festival, Nyege Nyege, in the eastern city of Jinja, a festival which critics say promotes immorality.
A BBC report says Nyege Nyege is an annual music and art festival that has been held in Uganda since 2015.
The report says it is one of the most popular, but controversial festivals in East Africa.
Some Muslim leaders in the city of Jinja, led by the Jinja District Kadhi Sheikh Ismail Basoga Adi have opposed the hosting of the event in their city.
“The activities taking place at Nyege Nyege are not commendable, especially in terms of their impact on the younger generation. While they do generate substantial revenue, they also promote immorality within society,” Mr Adi said recently, according to Uganda’s privately-owned Daily Monitor Newspaper.
Uganda’s Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has however criticised the push by Muslim leaders to ban the festival, terming them “self-seekers hiding behind religion”.
She said on Monday that the festival should not be cancelled on grounds of immorality as it is not attended by children and Jinja’s Muslim leaders have not opposed the hosting of similar events in the city before.
Some Ugandan leaders have in the past championed for the ban of the festival, which they described as a “breeding ground for sexual immorality” and “homosexuality”.
