The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda has agreed to participate in the government’s National Cleaning Day exercise on Sundays, allowing its members to continue observing Saturday as their Sabbath.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between the Seventh-day Adventist Uganda Union leadership, led by Archbishop Pr. Samuel Kajoba, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja over the implementation of the National Cleaning Days.
Under the arrangement, Adventists will participate in the monthly cleaning exercise on the last Sunday of every month instead of Saturday.
Prime Minister Nabbanja said the arrangement follows guidance from President Museveni and allows Adventists to observe their Sabbath while contributing to the national sanitation campaign.
“We have had a fruitful meeting with the Archbishop of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Samuel Kajoba, together with bishops and their legal team, and we have agreed as follows: that the Seventh Day Adventist Church members will work on Sunday, not Saturday, as advised by the President,” Nabbanja said.
She added that Adventists would observe a three-hour period at their homes before beginning church services at 10:00am across the country.
“They will have to observe a lockdown of three hours from their homes and start church service at 10:00am everywhere in the country,” Nabbanja said.
Nabbanja said the arrangement would initially apply to the monthly cleaning exercise, noting that the government could consider further proposals in the future.
“After all, it is just one day in the month, and I want to appreciate you, Bishop, Archbishop, for accepting the President’s proposal,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would help improve sanitation across the country.
“I know going forward, the garbage around the country will keep reducing. Eventually, I know Cabinet will sit to come up with another proposal on the way forward. But for now, I want to appreciate you for accepting the guidance of the President,” Nabbanja said.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has maintained that Saturday is its Sabbath and a day dedicated to worship and rest.
Speaking after the meeting, Kajoba urged church members to remain calm as discussions with government continue.
“Please members, keep calm. We are talking with government. Government cannot do it that way,” Kajoba said.
He said the church remains committed to working with the government and respecting the law.
“Adventists, we are good people. We are law-abiding. We have never gone on strike. We don’t rebel. We work with the government, and we are always praying for government,” he said.
Kajoba welcomed the proposal allowing Adventists to worship on Saturday and participate in the cleaning exercise on Sunday.
“I promise the whole country that please wait. We are still talking, and today I’m happy that we are before the Prime Minister of Uganda. We are before government now,” he said.
“I’m happy to hear that the President, in his wisdom, he said, ‘Please let the Seventh-day Adventists worship on Saturday and allow them to work the following day. That is on Sunday.’ That was good news, and it is still,” Kajoba added.
The National Cleaning Day initiative was introduced last month by the government as part of efforts to improve sanitation and cleanliness in communities across Uganda.
