Clergy are challenging state pandemic restrictions in court, contending that they are violations of religious liberty. COURTESY PHOTO.
Two faith leaders in Uganda are suing State Officials over directives that have prevented worshipers from attending Church service in person during the coronavirus pandemic.
To curb the spread of coronavirus, President Yoweri Museveni last Friday extended the ban on congregational worship for another 60 days – since the initial 42-day lockdown restrictions had been implemented.
The suit filed 3rd August, 2021 in the High Court of Uganda, Civil Division against the Attorney General, Minister of Health and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health urges that every individual regardless of age, has a right to practice and manifest any religion as is guaranteed under the constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
The suit was filed by Pastor Wisdom Katumba Peter of Charis Fellowship Limited and Imaam Bbaale Muhammed of the Majid Taqwa of Lubowa.
The duo want the High Court of Uganda to declare that the current closure, ban and suspension of places of worship by the respondents “is unjust, arbitrary, disproportionate, discriminatory, unjustifiable and constitutes a violation of the Applicants’ right to practice, manifest, enjoy, profess, maintain and promote their religion guaranteed under articles 20, 21, 29, 43 of the Constitution of Uganda.”
“A declaration that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) enacted and enforced by the Respondents on the reopening of religious places of worship are unjust, arbitrary, disproportionate, discriminatory and violate of the Applicants’ right to practice and manifest his religion and beliefs guaranteed under articles 20, 21, 29 and 43 of the Constitution of Uganda.”
The Applicants also want the High Court of Uganda to “issue an order directing the Respondents to open up places of worship and allow them [Applicants] enjoy their right to freedom of religion, belief and conscience without any disproportionate, arbitrary and or discriminatory burdens from the Respondents, her agents and/or persons acting under her.”
The Applicants also want the High Court of Uganda to issue a permanent injunction restraining the Respondents from “enforcing the current and future enforcement of unjust, disproportionate and/or discriminatory SOPs and further placing unjustifiable bans on places of worship.”
Religious gatherings have been at the center of legal disputes across the country.
In August 2020, the Ministry of Health in consultation with the National Covid 19 Task Force released specific Standard Operating Procedural guidelines for reopening of places of worship, which guidelines among other things imposed a cap on the number of congregants per service, banned children under the age of 12, elderly persons and those with underlying health conditions from accessing places of worship.
The Officials threatened a suspension of licenses should the stipulated guidelines be flouted.
