24/07/2026
NATIONAL ADVENTIST CIVIL ALLIANCE (NACA)
PRESS STATEMENT ON NATIONAL CLEANING DAYS ON SABATH
25 July 2026
Good morning members of the press, fellow Ugandans, distinguished religious leaders, and all citizens following this address.
I welcome you to this press conference convened by the National Adventist Civic Alliance (NACA), an independent civic association of Seventh-day Adventist believers committed to promoting constitutionalism, human rights, religious liberty, civic responsibility, and equal opportunities for Seventh-day Adventists in public service and national leadership.
Our association is not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. While our members are Seventh-day Adventists, we operate independently as a civic advocacy organization dedicated to defending the constitutional rights and freedoms of Adventists and promoting equal participation in public affairs.
Today, we wish to express our deep concern regarding the implementation of the Government's National Cleaning Day programme, particularly where it falls on the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath and the restrictions on movement associated with its implementation.
Let me make one thing absolutely clear from the beginning.
The National Adventist Civic Alliance supports cleanliness. We support environmental conservation. We support proper sanitation. We support public health.
However, we do not support any policy whose implementation, in our view, unnecessarily limits constitutional freedoms or compels Seventh-day Adventists to choose between obeying their faith and complying with government directives.
For Seventh-day Adventists, the Sabbath is not a tradition. It is a divine command.
The Holy Bible clearly teaches:
Genesis 2:2–3 declares that after creation, God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and sanctified it.
Exodus 20:8–11 commands:
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work."
Exodus 31:13–17 identifies the Sabbath as a perpetual sign between God and His people.
Isaiah 58:13–14 calls believers to honor the Sabbath rather than pursuing ordinary activities.
In the New Testament, Mark 2:27 records Jesus saying:
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."
Luke 4:16 tells us that Jesus Himself worshipped on the Sabbath according to His custom.
These scriptures demonstrate that Sabbath observance is a central article of faith for Seventh-day Adventists.
We therefore cannot support any public programme that effectively prevents believers from observing this sacred day according to their convictions.
Our concerns are also constitutional.
The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda guarantees every person the freedom of conscience, religion, thought and belief.
It guarantees every citizen the freedom to manifest and practise his or her religion.
It also guarantees equality before and under the law and protection from discrimination.
While rights may, in some circumstances, be limited by law in the public interest, such limitations should be demonstrably justifiable, proportionate, and respectful of fundamental freedoms.
In our respectful view, implementing a nationwide programme with significant movement restrictions during hours when Seventh-day Adventists travel to worship raises serious constitutional questions that deserve careful public dialogue.
Another major concern is the speed of implementation.
Public policy should be introduced after adequate consultation, public sensitization, and sufficient notice.
A policy announced and implemented within only a few days leaves citizens with little opportunity to adjust their plans.
Many Ugandans had already arranged travel, business meetings, examinations, family commitments, and religious programmes.
Some people had flights to catch.
Others had hospital appointments.
Others had long-distance travel already planned.
Even where emergency travel may be permitted, practical realities remain.
Most ordinary citizens depend on public transport.
Restricting public transport inevitably creates hardships for patients, travellers, workers, business owners, and families.
Government policy should minimize unnecessary disruption while achieving legitimate public objectives.
We further believe that Uganda's sanitation challenges are largely problems of supervision, management, accountability, and enforcement of existing standards.
Schools collect tuition and employ cleaners.
Hospitals employ cleaners and support staff.
Markets collect market dues and maintenance fees.
Local governments employ sanitation officers.
Public roads, drainage systems, and public infrastructure fall under responsible government agencies and technical departments.
The solution should therefore include strengthening supervision, enforcing sanitation standards, ensuring accountability for responsible officials, and addressing corruption or negligence where it exists.
Citizens should certainly be encouraged to participate voluntarily in community cleanliness initiatives.
However, responsibility for maintaining public institutions should not replace the responsibilities already assigned to public officials and agencies funded through taxpayers' money.
Every ministry, district, city authority, municipality, school, hospital, market authority, and government agency should be held accountable for maintaining cleanliness within its area of responsibility every day—not only on one designated day each month.
Finally, we are deeply concerned that movement restrictions during Sabbath morning hours may affect Seventh-day Adventists travelling to church for worship services.
Our worship services ordinarily begin in the morning and continue through the Sabbath day.
Any policy that substantially hinders believers from accessing their places of worship should be carefully reviewed to ensure that religious freedom is fully respected.
Accordingly, the National Adventist Civic Alliance respectfully calls upon the Government of Uganda to:
1. Review the implementation of National Cleaning Days where they coincide with the Sabbath observance of Seventh-day Adventists and other religious commitments.
2. Ensure that future public programmes are preceded by broad consultation, civic education, and adequate public notice.
3. Respect constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and freedom of worship when designing and implementing national programmes.
4. Strengthen supervision and accountability within government institutions so that schools, hospitals, markets, and public agencies consistently maintain proper sanitation through existing structures.
5. Engage religious leaders, civil society, professional bodies, and citizens in developing practical and inclusive sanitation policies.
We reaffirm that this statement should not be interpreted as opposition to cleanliness or public health.
Rather, it is a call for policies that promote cleanliness while equally respecting constitutional freedoms, religious diversity, good governance, and effective public administration.
As Chairman of the National Adventist Civic Alliance, I urge all Seventh-day Adventists and all Ugandans to remain peaceful, law-abiding, respectful, and committed to constructive engagement as we continue advocating for justice, constitutionalism, religious liberty, and accountable governance.
May God bless Uganda.
Thank you.
COUNSEL KIKUKU BUKUTI BOZELE
Chairman
National Adventist Civic Alliance (NACA)
Journalist | Politician | Human Rights Activist
