The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Uganda has given the government’s National Cleaning Day campaign a distinctly spiritual touch, combining community cleaning with evangelism and acts of practical kindness.
At Wilson Zone in Lubaga Division, Kampala, SDA members not only picked up litter and cleaned their surroundings, but also distributed evangelical books and soap to residents as they shared messages on faith, cleanliness and healthy living.
The colourful exercise marked the launch of a monthly nationwide cleaning programme by the SDA Church, designed to enable Adventists to contribute to the government’s sanitation campaign while respecting their observance of the Sabbath.
The initiative was officially launched at Kidomole LC1 by NRM Deputy Secretary General Rt. Hon. Rose Namayanja Nsereko, the Archbishop of SDA Church in Uganda, 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 aimed at improving sanitation, protecting public health and reducing preventable diseases.
For the SDA Church, however, the timing presented a unique challenge because Saturday is observed as the Sabbath, a sacred day on which Adventists refrain from routine work and other activities.
Church leaders therefore engaged the government to find an alternative arrangement, allowing SDA members to participate in the national campaign on another day.
Speaking at the launch, Namayanja commended the government for introducing the cleaning initiative, saying it would help tackle diseases that can be prevented through better sanitation.
“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.
She also thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the government for accommodating the church’s request, saying the arrangement demonstrated the importance of cooperation between government and religious institutions in tackling community challenges.
Namayanja applauded the SDA leadership and members for turning up in large numbers, noting that the initiative would extend to Adventist communities across the country.
Pastor Kajoba said cleanliness and health are deeply rooted in SDA teachings, explaining 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,” Kajoba said.
He said the church was ready to complement government efforts, stressing that the programme would not be confined to Kampala but would be rolled out through SDA structures across Uganda.
Pastor Simwogerere described the launch as an important milestone for the Kidomole community and pledged that the cleaning campaign would become a regular feature of SDA 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 go beyond cleaning public spaces and take personal responsibility for keeping their homes and neighbourhoods clean.
Simwogerere said sanitation should be viewed not merely as a government responsibility but as part of responsible Christian living and an important weapon against preventable diseases.
Rubaga Division Mayor Zacchy Mberaze Mawula also joined the exercise and praised the SDA Church for embracing the national campaign.
He said religious institutions have an important role to play in promoting good sanitation, health and responsible citizenship, urging residents to maintain the cleanliness achieved during the exercise.
For the Adventists, the message from Wilson Zone was clear: cleaning the community can go hand in hand with caring for the body, serving others and spreading the Gospel.
The SDA leadership has committed to conducting the exercise every month, adding a strong faith-based force to Uganda’s drive for cleaner, healthier and safer communities.