Kamwenge SDA Believers Seek Review of National Cleaning Day Over Sabbath Concerns

What the report says

Seventh-day Adventist believers in Kamwenge District have asked the Ugandan government to reconsider the timing of the National Cleaning Day programme, saying its placement on Saturdays clashes with their Sabbath observance. According to Nile Post, the programme was launched last month and sets aside the last Saturday of each month for nationwide cleaning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. as part of a broader effort to improve sanitation, public health and community participation.

The SDA members say Saturday is a sacred day for worship, prayer and rest, and that taking part in the exercise could force them to choose between religious duty and compliance with a national initiative. One church elder, quoted by the publisher, said the church supports clean communities but wants another day so members can participate without compromising their beliefs.

Religious leaders in the Rwenzori Sub-region have also become involved. Bishop Kazi Twinomujuni, chairperson of the Inter-Religious Council of Rwenzori Region and a leader in the Born-Again Faith community in Kamwenge, said the matter will be discussed before recommendations are sent to the Office of the Prime Minister. He urged SDA believers to remain law-abiding while consultations continue.

The issue highlights a wider tension between public campaigns and freedom of worship. The National Cleaning Day initiative is part of government efforts to reduce disease outbreaks and encourage environmental responsibility, but SDA believers hope flexible arrangements can be found to accommodate religious observance.