Mbarara Churches Fail to Implement Corona Virus Preventive Measures

Despite the threat of the Corona virus, several churches in Mbarara are yet to embrace the preventive measures proposed by the Health Ministry and Inter-Religious Council of Uganda-IRCU.  

Government through the Health Ministry has repeatedly advised public places to provide hand washing facilities with soap, sanitisers, avoid shaking hands and hugging among other measures to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Recently, IRCU issued similar guidelines pleading with the clergy to implement them to protect their flock from infection. On Sunday, our reporter visited some churches in Mbarara but neither found hand washing facilities nor sanitisers.  

Stanley Katembeya, a concerned Christian at All Saints’ Church told our reporter that it seemed management isn’t bothered or ignorant about the preventive measures. He however, pleaded with the administration to put implement the measures, saying it is a serious matter.  

//Cue in: “kurugirira aha Sunday…  

Cue out: …nikyo kimwe naUganda.”//

Dan Bindeba, another Christian said the state of affairs at the church was worrying since none of the church goers washed their hands yet he saw many shaking hands in church.  

//Cue in: “Kyatinisa kushanga tinanaba…       

Cue out: …oku naaba omugaro.”//    

Jessica Katambara also a Christian at All Saints’ Church, said management hadn’t bothered to implement the corona virus preventive measures, yet it is capable of providing hand washing facilities. 

She says Christians take church as a very serious institution and people use it as an example to manage their homes.

   

//Cue in: “all saints church…       

Cue out: …kuhwera abantu nkabo.”//  

Dr. Denis Barigye, a Christian at Uganda Martyrs Church blamed the church leadership for failure to implement the Corona Virus preventive measures suggested by the Ministry, which exposes their flock to danger.     

 

//Cue in: “the case is…       

Cue out: …innocent human beings.”//     

Rev. Emmanuel Munyaneeza, the senior Curate at All Saints church Mbarara, said they focused on sensitizing Christians against shaking hands as one of the major preventive measures. 

He also claimed that they provided sanitisers but Christians seemed not to have used them.   

 

//Cue in: “the sanitizer was…     

Cue out: …the states message.”//   

Corona virus also known as COVID 19, which was first reported in China on December 31.2019, spreads through contact with an infected person. 

The virus has so far spread to over 100 countries globally and infected more than 120,000. It has also claimed 4000 lives prompting the, World Health Organization to declare it a global pandemic.