By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Police Force has announced a nationwide restriction on the movement of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and water vessels this Saturday, July 25, 2026, as the country observes the monthly National Cleaning Day, commonly known as Bulungi Bwansi. The exercise will run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., during which the public is expected to participate in community cleaning activities.
In a press statement issued on Friday, Police said all forms of transport on roads and water bodies would be prohibited during the three-hour exercise, except for emergency services, security vehicles on official duty and cross-border traffic along major transport corridors.
The force urged motorists, traders, institutions and community leaders to comply with the directive, remain within their localities during the exercise and cooperate with security personnel enforcing the restrictions. Police warned that normal movement would only resume after 10:00 a.m.
The National Cleaning Day follows a government directive making the last Saturday of every month a mandatory nationwide sanitation exercise aimed at improving hygiene and reducing diseases linked to poor sanitation.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja recently announced the implementation of the initiative, saying Cabinet approved the programme in August 2025 as part of efforts to tackle preventable diseases. According to the government, about 75 percent of diseases in Uganda are associated with poor sanitation and hygiene, making community cleaning a national public health priority.
However, the implementation of the exercise has drawn concern from the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, which argues that holding the mandatory campaign on Saturdays conflicts with its observance of the biblical Sabbath.
In a pastoral letter issued on Friday, Uganda Union Mission President Pr. Samuel Kajoba said while the church fully supports environmental cleanliness, it remains committed to preserving the sanctity of the Sabbath, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Kajoba revealed that church leaders are engaging the government to seek an amicable solution that respects both the national sanitation campaign and the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
Among the proposals submitted by the church is allowing Seventh-day Adventist members to participate in the cleaning exercise on either Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday.
He urged church members to remain calm, respectful toward authorities and prayerful as discussions continue, expressing confidence that both sides can reach a peaceful resolution.
The development sets the stage for the first implementation of the monthly nationwide cleaning exercise amid growing debate over balancing public health initiatives with religious freedoms. Meanwhile, security agencies have vowed to enforce the movement restrictions across the country during Saturday’s exercise. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
