President Yoweri Museveni has on Sunday, March 1 2020 asked religious leaders to temporarily suspend shaking of hands during services as a precaution to the deadly coronavirus disease.
The President made the remarks as presided over installation of Bishop Kaziimba Mugalu as the new Archbishop of the Province of the Church of Uganda at St Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe today.
“I am appealing to every one of you, let us prevent this disease even at a personal level by precautionary behavior. Let us not shake hands unnecessarily. ”
He told the congregation to fight the virus spreads through a handshake and other body contacts can be contained through personal precautions.
He said this is the challenge that faces both government and religious leaders.
Museveni appeared at Namirembe briefly and he said he had come to “wish the new Archbishop good luck and also thank outgoing archbishop Stanely Ntagali for his good work over the last decade.
Museveni said he had an earlier scheduled another programme where he is heading to.
He praised Archbishop Ntagali for the way he toured the country giving hope to especially the young people.
He also praised him for the new Church of Uganda projects including the Church House, which he said will help the church financially.
Museveni said Dr. Kaziimba who is now the former Bishop of Mityana has done a great job and that “I can testify to that.”
The president lauded religious for contributing to the peace in the country.
“Here, we don’t have people fighting on behalf of God,” he noted saying we previously had religious wars between Protestants and Catholics, between Catholics and Moslems.”
“I want to thank them for their governing structures, the interreligious Council,” he said asking other countries world over to copy Uganda.
“We should influence people by example,” rallied against religious shovenism.
Venturing into history of religion, Museveni said he has lived in two religions, the traditional and Christianity.
Museveni said that Africans believed in one God long before the Christians come but the Christians just added a few elements.
