Isaac Ojok
Places of worship are to reopen in Uganda, after a lift on lockdown earlier pronounced on 6th June, 2021 to reduce COVID 19 infection among the people.
Lifting restriction on operation of places of worship in Uganda was on the night of 22nd September, announced by HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda during the presidential address on Covid19 situation in the country.
There has been a total shutdown on operation of places of worship and other public gatherings to minimise COVID 19 infections.
While lifting the restriction on operation of churches, the president permitted that people can now congregate in churches and mosques with not more than 200 people provided all the Standard Operation Procedures are observed.
The Head of State added that church ministers and worshippers shall wear face masks at all time, while temperature monitoring machines and hand washing facilities shall be put in all places of worship.
The President, however, noted that even weddings, funerals and other liturgical gatherings are restricted to not more than 200 people in attendance.
He mentioned that there will be no gatherings for worship beyond curfew time (7:00pm EAT) to protect the public from infecting one another.
He appealed to the citizens to observe all the Standard Operation Procedures set by the Health Ministry to prevent the country from entering in the third wave of Coronavirus pandemic.
The President announced that Government will continue to partner and work with religious leaders and other people of good will to mobilise the population to embrace the Covid19 vaccination drive geared to mitigate the pandemic.
