On Saturday 25 July, Uganda had its first nationwide mandated shut down of all activities except community service. Each person was required to attend community service to deal with National Cleaning issues, including: 

  • poor waste disposal;
  • blocked drainage systems and flooding;
  • environmental pollution;
  • sanitation-related illness;
  • weak community participation in maintaining public places.

This initiative was passed through the Cabinet of Uganda under the chair of President Yoweri Museveni and the compulsory community service will continue to be required of every citizen on the last Saturday of every month between 7-10 am. 

According to Habari Daily, "From 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., movement across the country ground to a halt as security agencies enforced a government directive prohibiting all non-essential travel. Uganda Police officers mounted roadblocks on major highways and city roads, preventing the movement of taxis, buses, private vehicles and boda bodas. Only emergency, medical and security vehicles were allowed to operate during the exercise.

"The unprecedented civic campaign saw shops, open-air markets and other commercial businesses remain closed throughout the three-hour period as residents turned their attention to cleaning homes, neighbourhoods, schools, health facilities, drainage channels and public spaces."

Not only was cleaning mandatory, but the Uganda Police Force banned all non-essential movement and announced that vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and vessels would not be permitted to operate during the three-hour period except for emergency services, security operations and cross-border traffic (as reported by The Observer & Edge).

A report and video emerged of a man who appeared to be receiving a caning by police, who were also carrying guns, for his failure to comply with the manditory community service. 

It is interesting that the reports on the day are invoking the effects of the lockdowns and restrictions of the COVID era. The empty streets and the lack of actvity and business are only some of the similarities. The fact that this is a mandated activity is the most startling similarity.

For many in Uganda, these restrictions were no doubt an inconvenience and removed their ability to attend to the work and activities they would normally be undertaking on a Saturday morning.

For a number it is likely a liberty of conscience issue. They do not feel convicted that they should be engaged in this activity in the way that is mandated at the time that it is mandated.

However, it contravenes more than a person's liberty of conscience. Approximately 613,000 or 1.5% of the Ugandan population are baptized Seventh-day Adventists and another approximately 3000 are Jews. This means that this is more than about incomes, pleasure, inconvenience, or a general sense of conviction. This is a mandate for the Seventh-day Sabbath keepers to go against their religious conviction in relation to the fourth of the Ten Commandments.

Both Jews and Seventh-day Adventists believe that the Old Testament is God's holy and infallible word. Both groups believe that the Ten Commandments remain a binding aspect of their relationship with God. The fourth commandment says, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8-11).

Kampala Gazette reported on Saturday, that the Deputy Secretary General Rosemary Namayanja had consulted with the Prime Minister's office regarding making an exception for Seventh-day Adventists. The following was announced, “Following consultations with the Office of the Prime Minister regarding Cabinet Circular No. 1 of 2026 on National Cleaning Days, I wish to inform our Seventh-day Adventist brothers and sisters that they may proceed to worship tomorrow, Saturday, 25 July, without hindrance,” Namayanja said. She added that “consultations are ongoing regarding whether Seventh-day Adventist members will undertake the National Cleaning Day activities on Friday or Sunday,” and said the outcome would be communicated once the talks are concluded." 

On Friday, the Seventh-day Adventist leadership of the Uganda Union Mission sent a letter to the Seventh-day Adventist Community dated 24 July. It stated that they were working with the government to find a mutually beneficial time for Seventh-day Adventists to comply with the community service. They also informed their membership that churches would start their services at 10.30am, 1 hour later than their normal time.

It is unclear what provisions are being made for those of the Jewish faith.

Whilst religious people, and in particular Seventh-day Adventists, may deligently pursue the upholding of their religious liberty, there needs to be a recognition that this is a liberty of conscience issue as well. This mandate removes freedom of movement, freedom of association and freedom of assembly (connected with the restrictions to movement),  and freedom to hold a different opinion.

This is clearly a liberty of conscience and religious liberty crisis for Uganda that needs our prayers, and, where possible, our direct intervention through petitioning the government! We will be watching this story closely and doing all that we can to support those who seek to uphold liberty of conscience.

Further reading

Habari Daily: https://habaridaily.com/compliance-marks-ugandas-first-mandatory-national-cleaning-day-as-nationwide-shutdown-mirrors-covid-19-lockdown/">https://habaridaily.com/compliance-marks-ugandas-first-mandatory-national-cleaning-day-as-nationwide-shutdown-mirrors-covid-19-lockdown/

The Observer: https://observer.ug/news/police-warn-against-non-essential-movement-during-national-cleaning-day/">https://observer.ug/news/police-warn-against-non-essential-movement-during-national-cleaning-day/

Edge: https://habaridaily.com/compliance-marks-ugandas-first-mandatory-national-cleaning-day-as-nationwide-shutdown-mirrors-covid-19-lockdown/">https://habaridaily.com/compliance-marks-ugandas-first-mandatory-national-cleaning-day-as-nationwide-shutdown-mirrors-covid-19-lockdown/

Report & video: https://edge.ug/police-cane-man-on-first-national-cleaning-day/">https://edge.ug/police-cane-man-on-first-national-cleaning-day/

Kampala Gazette: https://kampalagazette.com/government-sdas-in-talks-over-national-cleaning-day-schedule/