President Yoweri Museveni has declared June 25, 2021 a public holiday to pray to God for help as the country grapples with the surging cases of coronavirus pandemic.
Museveni said the move was informed by religious leaders in the country who want the country dedicated to prayers.
“I have accepted a request from religious leaders to dedicate the nation in prayer amidst our fight against COVID-19. I call upon all of you to pray for our health experts and for the different families that have been affected. Therefore, I declare Friday (25th) a public holiday,” said President Museveni.
Prayers will be held virtually at State House Entebbe from noon but religious leaders will attend the payers via zoom.
Millions of already domestically blockaded Ugandans will have to follow prayer proceedings to be held in metro Kampala- from home via traditional and social media.
‘‘Born again Christians, Pentecostals and Evangelicals will base from Rubaga Miracle centre cathedral; the Seventh day Adventists Uganda Union will base at Kireka hill, Orthodox will be at St Nicholas Namungoona while the Protestants will be at All saints cathedral, Nakasero with Muslims at Gadhafi mosque, Old Kampala,’’ the statement further reads.
While over 50, 000 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Uganda, Uganda’s Daily Monitor reports that 752 lives have been claimed by the resilient virus that has seen the nation record over 74, 260 infections since a March 2020 outbreak.
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According to June 23 Ministry of Health data, Uganda’s test positivity rate fell below 12 percent for the first time in almost two weeks
Daily Monitor also reports that at least 834, 200 people of Uganda’s estimated 41million population are now inoculated.
On Tuesday, Uganda announced the closure of parliament for 14 days as a second wave of COVID-19 continues to devastate the country.
The closure is to allow the disinfection of the parliamentary buildings in the capital city of Kampala.
“As a mitigating measure in the prevention of the COVID-19 infection, the Administration of Parliament in consultation with the Office of the Speaker is closing Parliament to Hon. Members of Parliament for a period of two weeks in order to disinfect the Parliamentary Buildings,” said Waiswa Henry Yoweri, Clerk to Parliament, Parliament of Uganda.
Despite June 25 being declared a public holiday, the country went into total lockdown on June 7 when Museveni announced raft of measures to curb the virus for 14 day.
Schools and all learning institutions are closed as all businesses are o be closed by 7 pm except pharmacies, with the curfew hours remaining from 9:00 pm to 5:30 am except for cargo trucks, lorries, trains and aircraft.
