UGANDA (AFP) — As thousands of revelers grooved to the sounds of Uganda's sold-out Nyege Nyege music festival on the banks of the Nile, relieved organizers said an attempted "immorality" ban had only served to boost sales.

A public outcry forced Ugandan authorities to reverse the ban — imposed over claims that the four-day extravaganza promoted sex, homosexuality and drug use — but not before news of the prohibition made international headlines.

Some of the partygoers attending the festival, which brings together artists from across Africa, told AFP they had only heard about the event that ends on Sunday thanks to the ban announced earlier this month.

"I learnt about the festival when the government of Uganda banned it on claims it was promoting immorality," British engineer David Kempson told AFP.

The 31-year-old Londoner had never been to Africa but the news prompted him to book a flight and make his way to Uganda's scenic Itanda Falls, where he joined 12,000 revelers — including 5,000 foreign tourists.

"It is my first time in Africa. I didn't expect this much, the huge fan presence, the greenery, the waterfalls and hospitality," he said.

It was the second ban slapped on the festival since 2018, when Uganda's former ethics minister Simon Lokodo, an outspoken homophobe, called the event an orgy of homosexuality, nudity and drugs akin to "devil worship."

Then too the ban failed to hold, following a social media outcry.

But this time, the prohibition proved to be an inadvertent publicity bonanza for the festival, organizers said.

"We are headed for a much bigger number (that) we never anticipated," the event's co-founder Arlen Dilsizian told AFP, referring to ticket sales.

The ban "increased vigor and interest in the festival," drawing visitors from the United States, China, Europe and the Middle East, he said.

'No evidence of orgies'

The festival, which moved to a new, larger outdoor venue this year, began in 2015 but had been on a pandemic-induced hiatus since 2020.

Nyege Nyege means an irresistible urge to dance in the local Luganda language, but it can have a sexual connotation in other languages in the region.

Although Dilzanian insisted that "no evidence of sex orgies have been adduced by anybody making the allegations," the festival was held under tight security, following a government directive against "contraband, narcotic drugs, vulgar language, songs, expressions and gestures."

Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi earlier warned that if there were serious breaches such as "sex orgies and nudity," police would halt the event and clear the site.