SDA Church Seeks Dialogue with Govt Over National Cleaning Days and Sabbath Observance

What the report says

Nile Post reported that the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda has opened discussions with the government over the mandatory National Cleaning Days programme, saying it supports the sanitation campaign but wants arrangements that do not interfere with Sabbath observance. The Uganda Union Mission of the SDA Church communicated the position in a pastoral letter dated July 24, 2026, addressed to Adventist members across the country.

According to the report, Uganda Union Mission President Pastor Samuel Kajoba urged members to remain calm and prayerful while church leaders engage government authorities. The concern is that some cleaning activities are scheduled on Saturdays, a day SDA members observe as the Sabbath, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, and reserve for worship, fellowship, mercy-related acts and communion with God.

The church said it backs efforts to improve hygiene, environmental cleanliness and public health, but is seeking what it views as a reasonable accommodation under Uganda’s constitutional protections for freedom of worship. One proposal cited by Nile Post is for Adventist members to take part in the cleaning exercise on Fridays or Sundays instead of Saturdays.

The issue matters because the government’s nationwide cleaning drive is intended to mobilize communities around sanitation and disease prevention, while the SDA Church says implementation should also account for religious practice. Nile Post reported that SDA leaders have asked members to avoid speculation, respect authorities and remain united as talks continue toward a solution that balances public health objectives with religious convictions.