Religious leaders under their umbrella organization, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, have issued an official declaration on the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda. 

In their statement, the religious leaders have expressed their heart-rooted concern about the outbreak of the disease and the suffering and loss of life it has caused.

L-R: Mr. Mubangizi, Kitaakule, Apostle Sserwadda, Bishop Kabuye, Sheikh Waiswa and Canon Grace Kaiso pose for a group photo after the press-briefing on the Ebola Virus disease at the headquarters of the Inter-religious Council of Uganda at Mengo (Balintuma Road) in Rubaga Division.

“As religious leaders, we are deeply concerned about the Ebola outbreak and saddened by the suffering and loss of life it is inflicting on our people. We are mindful of the serious humanitarian, social and economic impacts on our country, and of the potential for this impact to expand.

“Fellow Ugandans, this pandemic is not yet under control. Current indicators show that it is getting worse and it is expected to continue to spread. This significant increase in cases is extremely worrying as is the widening geographic scope and the community death occurring outside of the health care system. Sadly, with a lockdown in some communities, livelihoods are likely to collapse hence disrupting s vibrant communal, social and business life,” the statement read.

The Apostle Dr. Joseph Sserwadda shares his views on Ebola during the press conference at the headquarters of the Inter-Religious Council at Balintuma Road, Mengo, in Rubaga Division.

The religious leaders paid tribute to the government and the partners for their relentless efforts in providing leadership, guidance and support to the nation. 

They then pledged their commitment to mobilizing and activating their faith-based networks and structures to support education and mass campaigns to raise awareness of the causes, symptoms, spread, prevention and treatment of the Ebola pandemic.

“As religious leaders, we call upon the public to be vigilant and report any suspected cases of Ebola or persons who present the above signs and symptoms to the nearest health facility. If you think you have been exposed to Ebola, minimize contact with others. We appeal to the general public to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures set by the Ministry of Health and the district task forces’ guidelines in the fight against the pandemic. We appeal to the ministry of health to establish a clear coordinating mechanism to enable the different stakeholders who have interest, to make their contribution in order to maximize or merge resources and limit duplication.

Bishop Nectarious Kabuye of the Orthodox Church gives his remarks during the press-briefing.

“We commit to provide the necessary tools and knowledge to our local religious leaders to facilitate informed sermons and talk to communities in ways that are not only rooted in faith principles but promote trust, care, reduce fear and tackle stigma. We commit to utilize our existing platforms to educate communities about Ebola, how it spreads and how to engage with those who have been affected by it. It is our belief that proper education and sensitization will improve the referral of potential cases, reduce fear and stigma and capacitate communities with knowledge to promote safe practices for burials and religious rites in the context of Ebola.

Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa makes a submission during the press-conference.

“We call upon partners to support one another as communities face increased impoverishment due to collapse of livelihoods, increased food prices, the breakdown of markets and the closure of the school system. We commit to harness the knowledge of health practitioners in the fight against the Ebola virus disease and adopt a multi-pronged approach as the nation struggles to contain the deadly outbreak. We pledge to engage the government and advocate for the equipping of the isolation centers with basic facilities and medicines so as to promote trust among the Ebola patients to seek treatment, remain at the centers and complete their treatment.

“We continue to serve as messengers and agents of change, inspire communities to care for and love one another and avoid unsafe practices for good health in their communities. We pledge to ensure that religious leaders have the necessary information to support the promotion of social and religious practices that may contribute to the eradication of the Ebola virus disease in Uganda.

“Our collective effort during the Covid-19 pandemic taught us the values of solidarity, community support, humility, love and kindness. We therefore welcome all support from the government and partners to enable us make swift, comprehensive and effective interventions to halt the spread of the disease and address the public health crisis.”

The statement signed by Archbishop Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu (the Chairperson of the Council of Presidents of the Inter-religious Council) was read by the Apostle Dr. Joseph Sserwadda (the Presiding Apostle of the Born-Again Faith in Uganda), during a press-conference at the headquarters of the Interreligious Council of Uganda at Balintuma Road, Mengo, in Rubaga Division.

The function was also graced by the Orthodox Bishop of Gulu and All Northern Uganda, His Grace Nectarios Kabuye (who represented Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga), the second Deputy Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, the Inter-religious Council Secretary General, Joshua Kitaakule and the Head of Communications at UNDP, Michael Mubangizi.