Outrage Erupts as NRM Rallies Feature Sexualized Performances Near Schoolchildren

By Alexander Luyima | The Hoima Post

Across Uganda, growing concern surrounds the nature of entertainment at some National Resistance Movement (NRM) campaign rallies, where adult dancers have been recorded performing sexually suggestive routines in front of school-aged children. Several of these events reportedly took place on or near school grounds, raising questions about safeguarding, consent, and the appropriate use of educational spaces.

Parents, educators, and child rights advocates are warning that the blending of political mobilisation and sexualised entertainment risks exposing children to adult content in environments meant to be safe and educational.

> “If we fail to provide safety in our schools, we cannot achieve SDG 4 on education or SDG 5 on gender equality,” said Barno Mukhamadieva, UNICEF Uganda’s Chief of Basic Education and Adolescent Development, during a recent national consultation on protecting children from sexual misconduct in schools.

Social media has amplified the issue, with videos circulating widely and sparking outrage from citizens and advocacy groups. Posts by local commentators such as @diouslubega22 on TikTok have highlighted the moral and social implications, although direct quotes could not be verified at the time of publication.

The issue underscores a deeper gap between Uganda’s robust child protection frameworks and the realities of enforcement during public events. According to the Ministry of Education and Sports, schools must be safeguarded from exposure to political or commercial activities that compromise their integrity as learning environments. However, without specific enforcement mechanisms at the district or community level, these policies often remain theoretical.

Civil society voices have also expressed alarm. A statement from the feminist collective Femme Forte Uganda noted that the country’s continued silence around the sexualisation of public spaces leaves children and young people vulnerable. “The silence around consent and bodily autonomy leaves girls defenseless,” the organisation wrote in a 2023 reflection on gender and education.

Experts warn that exposure to sexualised performances can have lasting developmental impacts on children, including normalising inappropriate behaviour and eroding respect for educational institutions. Beyond psychological harm, the practice also blurs ethical boundaries between cultural expression and exploitation.

Child protection professionals are calling for immediate action. Recommendations include:

1. Prohibiting political rallies with adult entertainment on or near school grounds.

2. Establishing clear vetting procedures for public performances at events where children are present.

3. Mandating collaboration between event organisers, education authorities, and local police to ensure compliance with safeguarding laws.

Mukhamadieva and other UNICEF officials emphasise that schools must remain “safe, inclusive environments that nurture every child’s potential.” Maintaining this standard, they argue, requires vigilance not only from government agencies but also from parents, educators, and community leaders.

The controversy serves as a reminder that political enthusiasm must never come at the expense of children’s safety. As Uganda approaches more public gatherings and rallies, the call for accountability grows louder: protect the nation’s youngest citizens, and preserve schools as places of learning and dignity.