Can We Dance Without Fear? LGBTQ+ Joy and Safety at Nyege Nyege
During the 2025 Nyege Nyege festival near Jinja, people of different sexualities found a rare opportunity to gather, dance and express themselves in the same public space.
The festival was not formally an LGBTQ+ event. Its importance came from the freedom that a large crowd, music and shared celebration briefly created. In the middle of thousands of people, some LGBTQ+ Ugandans could meet others, enjoy music and experience a small break from the constant pressure to hide. This freedom was fragile. Some people used masks, coded language and careful movements to avoid being identified. Others attended with security concerns because threats, surveillance and public hostility remain part of everyday life.
As Nyege Nyege returns to Uganda from 19–22 November 2026, the question is not only whether this year’s festival will be exciting. The deeper question is: will LGBTQ+ Ugandans be able to enjoy it without fear? The official festival programme promises music, art, culture and thousands of visitors at Kalagala Falls.
At LRUF, we believe joy is not a privilege reserved for people who are considered acceptable by society. LGBTQ+ people should be able to attend a concert, dance with friends, express affection and return home safely. Enjoyment should not require disguises, coded messages or constant calculations about who may be watching.
We also recognise that a public celebration can create risks. People may be photographed without consent, exposed online, blackmailed, harassed or reported to authorities. For this reason, safety, privacy and consent must be treated as essential. Event organisers, security personnel and service providers have a responsibility to protect every participant equally.
We should not mistake a few hours of relative freedom for proof that LGBTQ+ Ugandans are safe. True freedom means being able to enjoy public life throughout the year—not only when music is loud enough to hide our fears.
This year, we hope Nyege Nyege becomes more than a temporary escape. We hope it reminds Uganda that LGBTQ+ people are part of the country’s culture, creativity and community—and that no one should have to choose between joy and safety.
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