Daily Monitor
Tuesday December 22 2020
Makindye Magistrate’s Court in Kampala charged the three Nigerian artistes Temilade Openyi, Muyiwa Awoniyi and Stanley Omah Didia and remanded them to prison for doing a neglect act likely to spread Covid-19. PHOTO/FILE
Advertisement
KAMPALA- Rubaga South MP Kato Lubwama and Theatrical Association Uganda Ltd have sued government for recently allowing an open music show by three Nigerian artistes yet their local counterparts were banned from performing due to Covid-19 restrictions.
In a December 17 suit, the performers cite selective enforcement of the law by security agencies regarding Covid-19 guidelines.
They contend that ever since President Museveni banned open air music concerts and other related cultural entertainment shows in March, they have adhered to the same.
How permit rules on foreign artistes will hurt Uganda
The crackdown by the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) on foreign artistes and journalists without work permits could have far-reaching implications to the entertainment industry and international conferences in Uganda.
Last weekend, police arrested Nigerian artistes, who had performed in Kampala City without a work permit and violating the standard operating procedures put in place to control the spread of Coronavirus.
The spokesperson of DCIC, Mr. Jacob Siminyu, said the Nigerian artistes arrived in Uganda on tourist visas and performed illegally.
“They were supposed to be tourists in Uganda. They were breaching the law,” Mr Siminyu said in an interview.