IGANGA, Uganda —Following His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s guidance to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) faithful to always observe their National Cleaning Day on the last Sunday of the month, the Minister for the Presidency, MP for Budiope West Constituency and Director for SDA Busoga Women Field, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, today led a massive cleaning exercise in Iganga Municipality.
The nationwide National Cleaning Day was officially held yesterday, Saturday 29th August, as passed by Cabinet. However, the SDA fellowship could not participate yesterday, being their sacred day of worship.
In line with H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s guidance and understanding of the faith, the President guided that the SDA faithful should always consider their National Cleaning Day on the last Sunday of the month – today, Sunday, 30th August.
In her remarks after the cleaning, the Minister conveyed warm greetings from the Office of the President and extended her heartfelt condolences to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, maama Janet Kataha Museveni, and the Kingdom of Tooro upon the demise of His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
She also noted that as per H.E. the President’s directive, His Majesty Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV will be accorded an official burial, and flags will fly at half-mast for three days in his honour.
The N.O.C is working hand in hand with the leadership of the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, the Kingdom of Tooro, the Royal family, and ministers from Tooro to implement the directive and burial arrangements be communicated in due course.
The minister, who has been at the forefront of implementing the President’s guidance to the SDA Church, said the arrangement demonstrates the NRM government’s respect for freedom of worship, a freedom that was restored and is protected under the leadership of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
She thanked H.E. the President and Cabinet for passing the National Cleaning Day initiative, noting that cleanliness is directly linked to good health, community transformation and national development.
She commended the leadership and residents of Iganga for embracing the exercise with enthusiasm and unity.
Minister Babalanda reiterated H.E. the President’s two key assignments for this term: eradicating poverty and fighting corruption. She directed the RDC Iganga District to work together with the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other law enforcement agencies to arrest all land grabbers in the district.
The minister urged all Ugandans to make cleaning a routine responsibility, saying a clean environment is the first step in the fight against poverty and disease.
The Bishop of SDA Busoga Field, Pastor Jimmy Kajura, expressed his gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM Government for answering to their call as SDA faithful to permit them to carry out their cleaning exercise on the last Sunday of the month rather than Saturday, which is their day of worship.
The cleaning exercise brought together staff from Uganda aids Commission, the NRM Chairperson, Iganga District, Hajji Walubi Abubaker; Chairperson LCV, Iganga District, Swabiru Isabirye Kalulu; Chairperson LCV, Kaliro District, Kagoda Elijjah; community leaders and residents of Iganga Municipality in cleaning the town, sweeping streets, collecting garbage and opening drainage channels.
