Keeping Churches Closed Means You Don’t Trust In God- Bishop Kiganda Tells Government

As religious institutions in Uganda remain closed to congregants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop David Livingstone Kiganda the proprietor of Christianity Focus Centre has launched a campaign geared towards pressuring government to reopen churches.

Addressing journalists at his church in Kisenyi a Kampala suburb today, Bishop Kiganda expressed disappointment with government for taking churches as high-risk areas more than markets and other public areas which are currently operating.

He said that instead of preparing Nambole stadium to accommodate COVID-19 cases and training people to burry those who may succumb to the disease, government should organise a thanksgiving ceremony to thank God for saving Ugandan lives.

“Keeping churches closed means the nation doesn’t trust in God yet He is the one in charge of the no COVID-19 death record,” said Kiganda

He said the campaign which involves wearing sucks with words ” I can’t breathe when churches are still closed” will remain in place until government heeds to their plea.

A number of other religious leaders have joined in chorus to appeal to government to open up places of worship including the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, Kampala Catholic Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and the head of the Anglican faith in Uganda Dr. Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu among others.

In March this year, President Yoweri Museveni put in place a number of measures in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus including suspending religious gatherings, closure of schools, ban on public transport and closure of borders among others.

The president has since eased the lockdown with a number of businesses which had earlier been closed allowed to reopen.

Uganda currently has 977 confirmed COVID-19 cases 904 recoveries and zero deaths.