Security personnel on Friday night have blocked Event Promoter Balaam Barugahara’s show at the Ntinda Primary School field.
The personnel who comprised the Uganda Police and Military Police arrived at the venue at 9:45 pm after the show had begun and asked the revellers to leave.
The show had been restricted to only 300 people including journalists, Musicians and bloggers. They were told to produce Covid-19 vaccination cards before they were allowed entry.
However, before the show was cancelled security agencies Uganda Radio Network reporters observed violation of Standard Operating Procedures. There were no sanitisers or water points at the entrance.
Balaam could be seen making several frantic phone calls in the presence of security personnel who insisted that the show should be called off. However, Balaam announced that the show had been cancelled allegedly due to noise complaints made by neighbours.
In an interview, Balaam said that he had been granted permission by the Director of Operations Uganda Police Force, Edward Ochom. However, URN couldn’t independently verify this.
He further noted that the proceeds from the show were supposed to be shared by artists who haven’t been earning for close to two years due to the outbreak of covid-19.
The security personnel stopped journalists from taking pictures of their interaction with Balaam and asked Daily Monitor journalist Stephen Otage to delete all pictures that he had taken.
By the time the show was cancelled Sheeba Karungi and King Saha and Clever J had performed. Others like Big Eye, Nina Roz, Deejay Michael among others were yet to perform.
Big Eye, one of the artists who had come to perform has expressed his disappointment.
Before the show was cancelled, children of police officers and other youth who stay near the school had filled the venue.
The closure of the show however was welcomed by some event promoters like Andrew Mukasa commonly known as Bajjo.
The show was closed at the time when President Museveni was addressing the Nation. The President said that the economy will reopen next year. He explained that bars, concerts will reopen two weeks when schools have reopened.
