Police and sister security agencies in Uganda have lauded the defiance of local and international festival-goers who disregarded travel warnings from the British High Commission and the US embassy to partake in the recently concluded Nyege Nyege festival in Jinja city.

Nyege Nyege festival, an annual convergence of celebrants from around the world, unfolds over three days on the banks of the River Nile in the bustling eastern city of Uganda, celebrating art and music.

In spite of prior travel advisories and terrorism alerts from the UK and USA, the joint security agencies reported that this year’s festival concluded without any security incidents.

The police disclosed that not only did Nyege Nyege proceed smoothly, but also the Busoga royal dinner in the same city was well-attended without any registered incidents, commending both the security forces and the vigilance of the attendees.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga expressed, “We want to inform the public that thousands of people attended the double event, and we want to thank fans and well-wishers who had the courage to participate, including citizens from other countries. There were no specific threats or intelligence linked to the double event. The fans were vigilant.”

Further details revealed that the police documented a few cases of criminal activities, including 30 incidents of phone theft, impersonation, possession of marijuana, and minor fire outbreaks.

A total of 45 suspects were apprehended, with 10 being released on police bond, while 35 await court appearances on various charges.

Enanga also extended appreciation to the organizers of the two events, acknowledging their meticulous efforts in ensuring the safety of the two major crowd-pulling events.

This year’s festival also drew revellers from the East African region, with some still en route back to their respective countries.