The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Uganda has raised concerns over the government’s newly introduced mandatory National Cleaning Days, saying the scheduled timing of the exercise conflicts with the church’s observance of the Sabbath, which members consider a sacred day dedicated to worship and spiritual reflection.
The church leadership has asked authorities to consider adjusting the programme so that Adventist believers can participate without violating their religious convictions.
In a letter addressed to members of the Adventist community, Uganda Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists President Pastor Kajoba Samuel said the church supports efforts aimed at improving sanitation and protecting the environment but must also uphold the importance of the Sabbath.
Pastor Kajoba explained that according to Adventist beliefs, Saturday is not treated as an ordinary day but as a holy day set apart by God for worship, fellowship and spiritual activities.
“According to Scripture, the Sabbath is God’s holy day, observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday,” Pastor Kajoba stated.
He added that during these sacred hours, believers are expected to stop ordinary work and dedicate their time to worship, acts of mercy and communion with God.
The government introduced National Cleaning Days as part of a nationwide campaign aimed at improving hygiene, waste management and environmental cleanliness across communities.
The monthly exercise is scheduled to take place on the last Saturday of every month between 8:00am and 11:00am, with citizens expected to participate in organised cleaning activities within their areas.
However, the Adventist Church argues that holding the exercise on Saturday morning directly affects its members because it falls within the hours they observe as Sabbath.
The church leader said the timing creates a challenge for Adventist believers who want to obey both their religious obligations and national responsibilities.
He explained that the church leadership is already engaging government officials in search of a solution that respects both the sanitation initiative and the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
Among the proposals being discussed is allowing Adventist members to participate in the cleaning activities on Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday.
The church believes such an arrangement would allow its members to contribute to the national cleanliness campaign while maintaining their religious commitments.
Pastor Kajoba urged Adventists across Uganda to remain calm and continue praying as discussions with government authorities continue.
“I kindly appeal to every member to remain calm, prayerful and steadfast in faith,” he said.
The National Cleaning Days programme is part of wider government efforts to encourage citizens to take responsibility for keeping their communities clean and improving public health standards.
Authorities have said the initiative will involve local governments, government agencies and community leaders who will coordinate cleaning activities across the country.
Police have also indicated that the exercise will be enforced, with some movement restrictions expected during the cleaning period except for emergency services and other exempted categories.
The announcement has generated discussion among Ugandans, with some supporting the government’s sanitation efforts while others have raised concerns about how the programme affects different groups with religious or personal commitments.
For the Adventist community, the main concern remains protecting the sanctity of the Sabbath, which they observe from Friday evening until Saturday evening.
The church maintains that participating in ordinary work activities during this period goes against their understanding of biblical teachings.
As discussions between church leaders and government officials continue, many are waiting to see whether adjustments will be made to accommodate Adventist believers and other groups affected by the Saturday schedule.
The debate highlights the challenge governments often face when implementing nationwide programmes while ensuring that different religious and cultural practices are respected.
For now, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has encouraged its members to remain peaceful and hopeful as authorities consider their concerns over the National Cleaning Days programme.
