KAMPALA – NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja has assured Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) faithful that they are free to attend worship services on Saturday despite the government’s directive designating the day as National Cleaning Day.
In a statement issued on Friday following consultations with the Office of the Prime Minister, Namayanja said the government had taken into account the religious obligations of the SDA community, whose Sabbath is observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.
“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 noted that discussions are still ongoing on when SDA faithful will participate in the National Cleaning Day exercise without interfering with their religious observance.
“The Sabbath is observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Consultations are ongoing regarding whether Seventh-day Adventist members will undertake the National Cleaning Day activities on Friday or Sunday. We will communicate the outcome as soon as those consultations are concluded,” she added.
The clarification comes amid public concern from members of the SDA Church after the government designated the last Saturday of every month as National Cleaning Day under Cabinet Circular No. 1 of 2026.
Namayanja’s statement is expected to reassure thousands of SDA faithful across the country, allowing them to observe their Sabbath without disruption while the government works out an alternative arrangement for their participation in the nationwide sanitation exercise.
The government has encouraged all Ugandans to support the National Cleaning Day initiative as part of efforts to improve sanitation, public health and environmental cleanliness.
