Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was on Tuesday live on TV and radio, outlining steps the government will take to further ease the lock-down as cases of coronavirus reached 33 districts in the country.
President Museveni maintained the ban on public prayer meetings, saying places of worship “attract a lot of people from different sources.”
This development comes weeks after Christian leaders and politicians including Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Hon Paulsen Luttamaguzi Semakula (Nakaseke South MP), Bishop David Livingstone Kiganda, Pastor David Bweyinda, Bishop Isaiah Mbuga and others claimed that his restrictions discriminate against churches.
Mr Museveni stated that scientists should team up with the Inter-Religious Council to formulate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Churches must follow before resumption of congregational worship.
“Churches have been talking of opening but of course you know that they attract a lot of people from different sources. So, I have asked the scientists to continue discussing with Church leaders how they think it can be done safely. But for now, let us maintain what we have been doing (status quo), and they discuss with scientists,” the President said.
“Some have been talking of (allowing in) few people per session. Let the scientists discuss with the Inter-Religious Council all those issues and once they agree with the scientists, I will be very happy to support it,” he said.
When legislators held inter-denominational prayers to mark the commencement of the 5th and last session of the 10th Parliament on 9 July, 2020, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga said that “scientific prayers” is a possibility and asked Government to consider re-opening the places of worship.
“The fact that we have assembled here for prayers is testimony that we can come up with an arrangement for a scientific prayers in the religious places of worship,” she said.
Digital worship “ineffective and expensive”
Church buildings have stayed empty since early March when Uganda reported her first COVID-19 case. Services moved online as the President purported opening places of worship leads to greater risks under these circumstances.
Over time, there as been a phased reopening of the economy, and many Church leaders believe it is now time for the head of state to revise the executive order that omits churches from the category of “essential services.”
Pastor Abed Bwanika, in a statement said clerics are capable of holding Church services in compliance with Ministry of Health guidelines for social distancing as is required of essential businesses that were allowed to reopen including market vendors, and public transport operators.
Pastor David Bweyinda maintained that online worship is not as effective as in-person worship, since only a few Ugandans are able to afford the internet or digital TV services.
Pastor Will Tumwine of Holy Spirit Fire Church in Mbarara Town, told local media he has tried to remain in touch with his flock during the lockdown but in a “hard way.”
“For example we have a TV programme every week where we pay Shs500,000 every 30 minutes. This isn’t easy during this period, we are using our individual savings to carry on the gospel because this is a trying period where the word of God is needed most,” he says.
Church buildings turned into political centres
Over the weekend, Christians and their leaders raised concern over politicians who have turned empty Church buildings into political centres for their programs and campaigns.
They wonder how a building considered ‘unsafe’ for prayers over Covid-19 is appropriate for other activities that gather crowds even with limited adherence to the publicized health guidelines for the pandemic prevention.
A video made rounds on social media showing NRM Vice Chairperson in the Easter region Capt. Mike Mukula addressing a meeting in what was alleged to be a Church facility in Bugisu sub-region.
“House of God remains closed to believers to stop Covid spread but is open to NRM campaigns. This is making mockery of Christianity. No mosque can allow this,” Kingsley William, a pastor and gospel musician said.
Member of parliament and leader of the people power movement, Robert Kyagulanyi posted on twitter: “The Museveni regime makes past despots look like amateurs! After banning all church meetings & political meetings on account of #COVID, Museveni’s campaign agents are using church buildings to hold political meetings to campaign for him. We shan’t relent until all of us are equal.”
