Pray harder from residential places- Dr. Kazimba

By Charles Katabalwa

7^th June 2021

Religious Leaders have asked Christians not be dismayed by the closure of places of worship saying that this is another means of payer and worship.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu says that although it may not be possible for Christians to gather on Sundays for prayer, worship, and Holy Communion, but the Church is not closed. The Church is people, and they can find other ways to worship, pray, evangelize, and support one another.

President Yoweri Museveni last night directed the suspension of communal prayers in all places of worship for 42 days. This is one of the fresh restrictions issued by the government as part of the measures to control the COVID-19 transmissions in the country in face of the second wave of the pandemic.

Churches were opened in September after a six months closure that started in March 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The places of worship were then required to have a maximum of 70 worshippers which number was later revised to 200. However, a ban on overnight prayers was maintained.

Now, Archbishop Kaziimba says that with the new directive, the Church of Uganda is to continue with televised Services for people to worship from their homes every Sunday but not to relent on the observance of SOPs if the country is to defeat the virus.

Besides the closure of places of worship, President Museveni suspended inter-district movements for all private and public transport means in a bid to contain the coronavirus. Marriage ceremonies, burials, and vigils are now restricted to only 20 people and are held in strict observance of standard operating procedures.

Public gatherings, conferences, cultural gatherings have also been suspended except for The Cabinet, Parliament, and The Judiciary.