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Nebbi Diocese Suspends Indoor Worship to Combat Ebola Spread
By Mike Rwothomio
The Bishop of Nebbi Diocese, Church of Uganda, Rev. Pons Ozelle Awinju, has directed all churches in the diocese to conduct prayers and services outdoors as a key infection prevention and control measure to reduce the risk of Ebola virus transmission.
Bishop Awinju issued the directive on Sunday, May 31, during the ordination mass of four priests at St. Stephens Cathedral Goli in Nebbi Diocese.
“All services should be outside the church to allow social distancing because of Ebola,” the Bishop said.
He mandated that all churches must provide hand-washing facilities, warning that any church without them will be closed.
The Bishop announced additional strict infection prevention protocols, including:
During baptisms, parents must hold their children; pastors shall not touch any child.
The Bishop will not lay hands on candidates during confirmation services but will instead stretch his hand and pray from a distance.
Pastors must frequently wash their hands with soap and sanitizer during Holy Communion.
No physical greetings during church services.
Nebbi Diocese Church of Uganda comprises over 40 parishes spanning the districts of Zombo, Nebbi, and Pakwach. The predominantly Alur-speaking communities share close linguistic, cultural, and familial ties with counterparts across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
While acknowledging the difficulty of separation, the Bishop urged restraint on cross-border movement, emphasizing: “These measures are not about hatred but life.”
Further measures include prohibiting social interaction after services, requiring congregants to go straight home, and suspending all-night prayers, with only daytime services permitted.
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The Bishop, who recently returned from official leave, announced he will soon begin a pastoral tour for confirmation services starting in Ukuru Archdeaconry.
During the period, the Bishop announced that Confirmation candidates must sleep in their homes and not converge overnight at the venue, noting that Services will be strictly timed from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The Bishop himself will not spend nights in any parish during the tour and, if necessary, may stay at an archdeacon’s home, with no welfare teams required.
These preemptive measures align with the Uganda Ministry of Health’s national Ebola containment strategy, enhanced surveillance, and efforts to address cross-border transmission risks.
Authorities in Zombo, Nebbi, and Pakwach districts have intensified border surveillance due to porous borders and routine cross-border movement for trade in markets such as Paidha, Malaba, Alangi in Zombo, Nyalip in Nebbi, and Panyimur in Pakwach.
On Monday, security personnel in Pakwach’s Panyimur Market fired teargas to disperse traders after they violated standard operating procedures by mingling freely with colleagues from the DRC.
Pakwach Deputy RDC Achille Twaib said the operation will continue as part of virus control measures.
In Zombo District, authorities have locked several popular night spots as part of heightened controls in this border-vulnerable area.
Recently, His Majesty Ubimu Philip Rauni Ularker III, the King of Alur Kingdom, suspended all major functions and social gatherings and issued guidelines in line with Ministry of Health directives, urging subjects to comply to mitigate spread of the virus.
The ongoing outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, described by the World Health Organization as a severe and often fatal form of the disease with no approved treatment or vaccine.
As of Saturday, the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported 43 confirmed deaths, including 42 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and one in Uganda.
The Bishop of Nebbi Diocese Church of Uganda Rev Pons Ozelle Awinju
Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub for African stories trends and updates
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