PPU Photo.
President Yoweri Museveni has in his latest public statement rejected the request by a section of Christian leaders to re-open Church buildings, saying the Coronavirus “has the potential of spreading like a bush fire once it finds large groups of people near each other.”
“We must continue to deny it this opportunity by praying from our homes as we have been doing over the last two months. Fortunately, one of the attributes of God is that He is omnipresent. This means that His presence is everywhere,” he said on Wednesday, amid celebrations to mark Martyrs Day.
Faith leaders have during the last few days put pressure on government to open Church buildings which they say “act as places of comfort to the people.”
Pastor Umar Mulinde of Gospel Life Church International likened continued Church closures to ‘atheism pride.’
“God had protected us, but atheism pride is costing Uganda greatly. I am afraid Uganda might be inviting a real danger because God is not mocked. Attributing Uganda’s victory to science is simply a too much claim because Ugandan scientists are evidently a no match when compared to those of America, the UK, Russia, Italy or even China where COVID- 19 has already caused havoc killing thousands! Therefore, it’s not scientists, Doctors or what, but God has helped Uganda, He deserves His glory – Luke 17:11-19,” he said.
Well-known politician Alice Alaso Asianut criticized President Museveni’s move to lift restrictions on public transportation, shopping malls among others, without opening worship places.
“Elsewhere Worship has been classified as an essential service and places of worship have opened with essential guidelines to follow. Simply ask the religious leaders to provide an adherence plan and you will see how easy it is to ensure implementation. This has been done in South Africa, USA, Tanzania and can be done better in Uganda,” she said.
“I am conscious that there could be people who don’t want us to Worship God. To them the Lord says; let my people go, that they may worship me. The consequences of holding back worship without any justification were well illustrated to Pharaoh in the book of Exodus chapters 2 up to Chapter 13,” she added.
On his part, Archbishop Samuel Kaziimba said: “We, the religious institutions, have more organised places of worship than even markets and we are humble, disciplined and compliant with all necessary measures, including sanitisers, handwashing facilities and are allies in the pandemic campaign.”
President Museveni used Psalms 139:7-8 to justify his decision.
The scripture reads, “Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
“This means that God can hear our prayers from anywhere and His blessings upon our lives are boundless. Therefore, let us continue worshiping from our homes,” he said.
