Uganda’s government on Monday banned the practice of “disco matanga” at funerals, on the grounds that these “evil dances” often lead to sexual abuse, a minister said.

This practice, which means “mourning disco” in Swahili, takes place in the evenings and late into the night. Men usually drink large amounts of alcohol or use drugs and pay young women to dance. The money raised covers the cost of the funeral.

Many non-governmental organizations have denounced these “parties” which sometimes lead to sexual abuse.

“Disco matanga is a devilish dance (…) The police and security forces have been ordered to ensure that disco matanga stops and anyone who organizes such parties will be arrested and brought to justice,” General Affairs Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba said. .

The young girls who attend these parties are “forced to appear on stage in short dresses and dance seductively to attract men and thus help raise money for funeral expenses. These performances are given at night and the girls are sexually abused,” he added.

This practice originates from neighboring Kenya and is widespread in the border areas in eastern Uganda. Kenya banned ‘disco matanga’ in 2018.

In Namagingo district “we had two deaths linked to disco matanga: a girl who was gang-raped and a boy who was attacked while returning” from a party, said a local official, Suleiman Walugebe Juuko, assuring he would “enforce the ban”. .