The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Uganda has blended community sanitation with evangelism and acts of kindness as part of its response to the government’s National Cleaning Day campaign.
At Wilson Zone in Lubaga Division, Kampala, SDA members on Saturday cleaned streets and surrounding areas, while also distributing evangelical books and soap to residents and sharing messages on faith, cleanliness and healthy living.
The exercise marked the launch of a monthly nationwide cleaning programme by the church, aimed at enabling Adventists to contribute to the government’s sanitation campaign while observing the Sabbath.
The programme was officially launched at Kidomole LC1 by NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko, SDA Church Archbishop Samuel Kajoba and Central Uganda Conference Bishop Pastor David Simwogerere.
The government recently designated the last Saturday of every month as National Cleaning Day, with the campaign intended to improve sanitation, protect public health and reduce preventable diseases.
However, the programme initially posed a challenge for Adventists because Saturday is observed as the Sabbath, a sacred day on which church members refrain from routine work and other activities.
The church subsequently engaged the government to allow its members to participate in the cleaning campaign on another day.
Speaking at the launch, Ms Namayanja commended the government for introducing the initiative, saying improved sanitation would help curb preventable diseases.
“We want to thank the Government of Uganda for coming up with such a day as far as cleaning our areas is concerned, which is aimed at protecting our lives because many of the diseases that we have are preventable,” she said.
Ms Namayanja also thanked President Museveni and the government for accommodating the church’s request, saying the arrangement demonstrated the importance of cooperation between religious institutions and government in addressing community challenges.
She commended the SDA leadership and members for turning up in large numbers and said the programme would be extended to Adventist communities across the country.
Pastor Kajoba said cleanliness and health are central to SDA teachings and noted that the church has structures dedicated to health, development and community service.
“Our church believes in cleanliness. Health is a very important element in our Adventist teaching. We believe in cleanliness and we believe in health,” he said.
Pastor Kajoba said the church was ready to complement government efforts, adding that the programme would be rolled out through SDA structures across the country.
Pastor Simwogerere described the launch as an important milestone for the Kidomole community and pledged that the exercise would become a regular part of the church’s community engagement.
“This is just the beginning, and we pledge that every month, as the faithful of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we will engage in this exercise,” he said.
He urged Adventists to take personal responsibility for keeping their homes and neighbourhoods clean instead of focusing only on public spaces.
Pastor Simwogerere said sanitation should not be viewed solely as a government responsibility but as part of responsible Christian living and a means of preventing disease.
Rubaga Division Mayor Zacchy Mberaze Mawula, who joined the exercise, praised the SDA Church for embracing the national campaign.
He said religious institutions have an important role to play in promoting sanitation, public health and responsible citizenship, while urging residents to maintain the cleanliness achieved during the exercise.
The SDA Church leadership said the monthly programme would combine sanitation, community service and evangelism as part of its contribution to efforts to create cleaner and healthier communities.
