As the partiers do their thing at the ongoing Nyege Nyege Festival 2022 having a good time, there have been the wrong elements too. The thieves at this festival have been running riot and wreaking havoc on the revelers and crime has increased a lot. Despite security forces being deployed in huge numbers, the people have outnumbered it and some officers are even reported to have resorted to partying silly.
Among the noted criminal cases at the festival is one person who was cut using a broken glass by thieves and is currently admitted. It has also been reported that some white couple was beaten and their property taken including passports. Another reported case was of a French national, a one Quentin who was found lying unconscious by the River Nile banks. He was found unconscious by the Police health unit and Red Cross society and had to be rushed to Butagaya health Centre III.
“A team of officers from the police health services unit and their counterparts from the Red cross society found Quentin lying unconscious along the Nile river banks and rushed him to Butagaya health center III for further management.”
So far there have been over 20 cases of phone theft. Meanwhile Police revealed how it had set up 25 Suspicious Incident Reporting Centers for the festival. These were put along the major routes leading to Itanda Falls in Butagaya sub-county of Jinja district. These are intended to avert different forms of criminality throughout the course of the festival.
A marine unit is also in place and has been patrolling the water bodies to avert criminals from using the lake to perpetrate crimes. Police spokesperson Fred Enanga a while ago cautioned revelers about this festival before giving them the precautions to use while there.
Below is a list of the Nyege Nyege guidelines issued by Enanga;
Ensure you have transport money or means to and from the venue. And have a plan for getting home safety.
Stick with your friend and keep an eye on each other.
Do not pick up drinks at random, you have no way of knowing what is in them.
Drugs will not be tolerated at the event. And there will be a very strict search policy in place by police.
Do not leave your drinks and property including bags and mobile phones unattended. We would also urge people not to bring unnecessary bags to the event.
Keep valuables close at all times. Keep wallets and purses out of sight.
We anticipate predatory behavior from sex predators, targeting young adults and women. Be on the look-out for potential sex predators spotting and stalking you. We shall be on the look-out.
Do not enter into a camping site or tent without your will. Avoid any compromising situations like lone movements especially at night. Entering a tent can easily lead to acts of victimization including sexual violence.
Notify medics and police in case a health concern arises.
While at the venue, revelers should make sure they are aware of the surroundings. They should report any suspicious object or persons to the police or the organizers
Revelers should pay attention to where they can exit from at the venue and have a plan in case they need to leave quickly.
The open waters of the R. Nile are discouraged for swimming.
Ensure your camp or tent is not left unsupervised.
When buying a ticket, ensure it is bought directly from the event organizers.
When you are finished using your phone -put it away. Thieves can grab a phone from a table in seconds.
Victims of sexual abuse or violence should take courage and immediately report to the police for investigations and post-rape treatment.