Ms. Linda Nabusanyi, the Senior Presidential Press Secretary confirmed that President Museveni has declared Friday, June 25-2021 which is today, a public holiday and also the fourth National Prayer Session as the country battles COVID-19 second wave which has put the country into another lockdown
Section 2(2) of the Public Holidays act gives power to the president to declare any public holiday and this will enable the country hold prayers to seek for God’s intervention on the pandemic which has claimed many lives of Ugandans since its outbreak last year.
The letter further indicates that: ‘‘Prayers will be held virtually at State House Entebbe starting at noon but the leaders of the various religious denominations will lead the prayers via zoom.
‘‘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 and followers will use traditional and social media while at home
While over 50, 000 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Uganda, 752 lives according to the Ministry of Health records, have been claimed by the resilient virus that has seen the nation record over 74, 260 infections since a March 2020 outbreak.
According to June 23 Ministry of Health data, Uganda’s test positivity rate fell below 12% for the first time in almost two weeks
Uganda has recorded 74,260 Covid infections and 752 deaths since March last year but in the last month, the number of infections has increased by 17 folds whereas the number of deaths has also more than doubled.
The development comes a week after President Museveni imposed a total lockdown of the country for 42 days as a measure to control the spread of the virus.
Members of the public have been asked to attend prayers from their homes through radios, TVs and social media channels that will relay the prayers live.