By Sekka Bagenda
Every time president appears before anxious Ugandans to talk, updating them on matters concerning Covid-19, he appears relaxed, ready to say what he thinks should be said by a patriotic citizen.
I had never seen Mr Museveni acting under immense pressure as I saw him doing on Friday night while addressing the nation. In his speech, he relaxed the lock down measures that he had instituted on June 18. The Museveni that spoke on July 30th is not the Museveni we have been seeing since March, 2020 when Coronavirus arrived in the country.
Buses, taxis, boda bodas, malls and arcades, which in fact contribute a lot to the escalation of Covid-19 cases, if allowed to operate, were allowed to operate. Ridiculous!
The president said churches and other places of worship would remain closed for 62 days.
Pastors had, in the early days of Coronavirus, heaped huge pressure on authorities. It is the reason why somewhere later last year places of worship were allowed to allow 70 congregants in, to worship. The number was later increased to 200.
Thoughts that men of God would, by using data, and through social media platforms, pray for people sitting in their sitting rooms, blinded pastors, and prophets.
It is now not uncommon to hear a pastor bragging that they, during their live streams, are viewed by more than a thousand people.
Formerly very vocal pastors like Aloysius Bugingo are now incredibly quiet.
Another advantage of virtual prayers is that pastors have eventually managed to give themselves an opportunity to ask their sheep to give offertory and tithes.
We think now the government sees no reason why they should open houses of worship for people to pray together.
Pastors seem contented, and are ready to conduct prayers through internet, forever.
Unless you people, the pastors, prophets, sheiks, imams and others, including bishops, begin and say enough is enough to praying virtually, churches, mosques, cathedrals, bars and other places where people are called to congregate will remain closed until, perhaps, more than ninety percent of the population is vaccinated.
Shame upon you pastors, bishops and others called to serve your God, the Almighty. People must gather, and pray together.
sekkabagenda@gmail.com
