Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 887
- 551
The Government and the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church have reached an agreement to accommodate SDA members in the implementation of the National Cleaning Day, after the Church raised concerns that the programme conflicted with their Sabbath observance.
The National Cleaning Day was established by the Office of the Prime Minister as a mandatory nationwide sanitation exercise, held on the last Saturday of every month from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The programme, officially launched on July 25, 2026, requires citizens and residents to participate in cleaning public spaces, roads and drainage channels.
However, SDA members, who observe Saturday as their Sabbath, initially protested their inclusion in the Saturday exercise, describing the requirement as unfair because it compelled them to undertake activities during a period reserved for worship and religious observance.
Following discussions with Government, the SDA Church has now reached a consensus to allow its members to participate in the cleaning exercise on the last Sunday of every month instead.
According to the agreement, SDA worship centres will open at 10:00 a.m. on the last Saturday after the official three-hour national cleaning exercise, allowing members to attend worship without compromising their religious observance.
The agreement was communicated following a meeting between SDA leaders, led by Archbishop Samuel Kajoba, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, alongside NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja.
The consensus provides an accommodation for SDA members while maintaining the Government's broader objective of promoting sanitation, public health and community responsibility through the National Cleaning Day.
The National Cleaning Day was established by the Office of the Prime Minister as a mandatory nationwide sanitation exercise, held on the last Saturday of every month from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The programme, officially launched on July 25, 2026, requires citizens and residents to participate in cleaning public spaces, roads and drainage channels.
However, SDA members, who observe Saturday as their Sabbath, initially protested their inclusion in the Saturday exercise, describing the requirement as unfair because it compelled them to undertake activities during a period reserved for worship and religious observance.
Following discussions with Government, the SDA Church has now reached a consensus to allow its members to participate in the cleaning exercise on the last Sunday of every month instead.
According to the agreement, SDA worship centres will open at 10:00 a.m. on the last Saturday after the official three-hour national cleaning exercise, allowing members to attend worship without compromising their religious observance.
The agreement was communicated following a meeting between SDA leaders, led by Archbishop Samuel Kajoba, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, alongside NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja.
The consensus provides an accommodation for SDA members while maintaining the Government's broader objective of promoting sanitation, public health and community responsibility through the National Cleaning Day.
