With the number of coronavirus cases worldwide surpassing 150,000, with some 6,000 deaths, The New Vision reported on Wednesday that the Ugandan government is yet to suspend all Church services over the pandemic.
In as much as Uganda has no confirmed coronavirus cases yet, sources inside the State House told NBS Television said President Yoweri Museveni will most likely “make pronouncements on schools and other places of mass gathering” during his national address on 18 March 2020.
“It is most likely we may have few mass gatherings stopped and schools ordered closed for the time being. However, anything is expected, the president is not to be scooped,” the source was quoted as saying.
This development has received mixed responses from Church leaders.
“Coronavirus is a very very dangerous attack from hell. We should do everything possible to keep ourselves from being infected. And I believe by God’s Grace, He is going to help us to do so,” Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Centre Cathedral, Rubaga says.
“Do we agree with shutting down churches? Maybe not. But it is a national precaution. I never thought it would come to this, but we need to be vigilant,” he adds.
Pastor Kayanja says the weapons of warfare against the deadly coronavirus include standing on the promises of God, praise, worship and obedience – even to the authority of government.
Kampala-based Pastor Cyrus Mwase of Zion Saints Ministries International, says Uganda is “a very special country,” therefore the President should not “stop the perfect method of preventing the pandemic: it’s prayer,” he said.
Uganda is already sandwiched with neighboring countries; Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, and DRC registering cases of coronavirus.
Pastor Mwase says churches are doing the best job in “giving life where fear is.”
“There are so many prayers, lunch hours, daily overnights, daily fellowships everywhere in every corner of the country especially in the capital city, Kampala. Christians are always praying everywhere. The environment is so unfavorable for the COVID-19 pandemic to thrive,” he says.
“If enemies of the Gospel, mislead the decision makers to stop prayers in the country, it now becomes a favorable environment for the devil to take advantage of our motherland. I pray our leaders caution Ugandans on prevention, sensitize us on how to keep safe, but never to make any mistake to stop prayers to this God who has both kept our country and His people,” he adds. “You cannot stop prayers in order to overcome satan properly… instead you intensify it.”
On Monday, the office of the Bishop of West Ankole diocese wrote to the clergy and laity in West Ankole diocese suspending pastoral visits and confirmation services.
A research laboratory at Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine discovered various forms of coronaviruses in samples collected from bats in the country, according to the Daily Monitor.
“We have analysed 16,000 samples and seen a prevalence of coronaviruses at a prevalence of 0.6 per cent,” Prof Denis Byarugaba, the lead research scientist at the laboratory said.
In places like the USA where death toll passed 100, several large churches choose to stream their sermons online.
