Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has appealed to the government for an exemption from Uganda's newly introduced National Cleaning Days, saying the monthly exercise clashes with its Sabbath worship.
The request comes ahead of the first nationwide cleaning exercise scheduled for Saturday, July 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., during which transport, businesses, and other non-essential activities will be suspended.
In a pastoral letter, Uganda Union Mission President Pastor Samuel Kajoba said the church fully supports efforts to promote sanitation and a healthy environment but cannot compromise the sanctity of the Sabbath, which Adventists observe from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
"While the Seventh-day Adventist Church fully supports initiatives that promote a clean and healthy environment, we remain committed to the sanctity of the Seventh-day Sabbath as ordained by God," Kajoba said.
Kajoba said church leaders are engaging the government to allow Adventists to participate in the cleaning exercise on Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday, stressing that the discussions seek to uphold both the national objective and the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
The initiative has also drawn criticism from exiled lawyer and author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who argues that the government lacks the legal authority to compel citizens to participate in mandatory community cleaning through a Cabinet circular. He contends that such obligations require legislation passed by Parliament and that the directive conflicts with constitutional provisions and existing laws governing public health and local governments.
Despite the concerns raised, the government has maintained that the first National Cleaning Day will proceed as planned, with police enforcing movement restrictions during the three-hour exercise.
The monthly initiative, launched by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, will be observed on the last Saturday of every month to improve sanitation, protect public health, and promote environmental cleanliness.
The request comes ahead of the first nationwide cleaning exercise scheduled for Saturday, July 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., during which transport, businesses, and other non-essential activities will be suspended.
In a pastoral letter, Uganda Union Mission President Pastor Samuel Kajoba said the church fully supports efforts to promote sanitation and a healthy environment but cannot compromise the sanctity of the Sabbath, which Adventists observe from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
"While the Seventh-day Adventist Church fully supports initiatives that promote a clean and healthy environment, we remain committed to the sanctity of the Seventh-day Sabbath as ordained by God," Kajoba said.
Kajoba said church leaders are engaging the government to allow Adventists to participate in the cleaning exercise on Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday, stressing that the discussions seek to uphold both the national objective and the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
The initiative has also drawn criticism from exiled lawyer and author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who argues that the government lacks the legal authority to compel citizens to participate in mandatory community cleaning through a Cabinet circular. He contends that such obligations require legislation passed by Parliament and that the directive conflicts with constitutional provisions and existing laws governing public health and local governments.
Despite the concerns raised, the government has maintained that the first National Cleaning Day will proceed as planned, with police enforcing movement restrictions during the three-hour exercise.
The monthly initiative, launched by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, will be observed on the last Saturday of every month to improve sanitation, protect public health, and promote environmental cleanliness.
