Nyege Nyege Festival Sees Ugandans Spending Like There Is No Economic Crisis

The last Nyege Nyege festival happened in 2019 in Njeru, Buikwe District. The following year soon saw a 2-year long Covid-19 pandemic set in, then the 2021 general elections with it’s problems, and lastly the Ukrainian war which saw prices of commodities go up.

With all of these effects on the economy, people still made their way to Itanda Falls for Nyege Nyege 2022.

“In Uganda, we are all just trying to get by. Unless you’re a politician, the chances are that you’re poorly paid that it is almost impossible to save,” one of the revelers said.

The food area at the festival had multiple food franchises dealing in eateries such as katogo, chips, steaks, snacks, candy, pastries and coffee, among others. They all competed for buyers but then an ordinary rolex guy still also made good business.

This food is usually sold at much higher prices than it is in Kampala. However, regardless of the pricy food, the party goers ordered for it with a lot of ease.

“They say only less than 20 percent of Ugandans earn at least a million and probably many of those are not at this festival,” one patron remarked after he had been told the whiskey he wanted to buy was out of stock.

The bottle in question went for shs60,000 which is a shs15,000 increment on its normal market price. The patron wondered where the young people at the festival get their money from.

Others were paying money to charge their phones, a service provided by Charge-ko, a start up business. Every charge costs shs5,000. However, one can buy a power bank that is exchangeable with a fully charged one if it is depleted.

Tickets online went for shs160,000 and on Thursday at the gate it had gone up by 90,000 bringing it to shs250,000. After paying this amount, one still has to pay for accommodation if they didn’t carry a tent of their own.

But the funny thing about all this is that it is Ugandans who are not bargaining. They complain that the services are very expensive but they do this while they are paying. This poses a very big question of whether or not there is an economic crisis in the country.

Check Also;

• NYEGE NYEGE: The Festival Promoting Art And Cultural Tourism
• Nyege Nyege Co-founder Says The Event Promotes Trade And Talent
• Government Is Not Deliberate About Addressing Ongoing Crisis In The Country; Joel Ssenyonyi

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