On a bright Sunday morning, the sound of hymns filled St. Luke’s Church of Uganda in Nabweru Parish, Wakiso. But amid the prayers and praise, another message was being shared one not from the pulpit, but from the Uganda Red Cross team standing alongside the congregation.

Their mission was simple yet life-changing: to remind the faithful that protecting their health is just as important as nourishing their spirit. With calm voices and easy demonstrations, volunteers showed families the power of handwashing and explained how simple habits can stop diseases like Mpox and Ebola before they spread.

For many worshippers, this was more than just a health talk. It was hope.

“Every week, we welcome new members who may not know about these diseases,” said Rev. Simon Peter Kintu Ssalongo, the church’s lead pastor. “By sharing this knowledge, we are saving lives and that is God’s work too.”

After the service, children crowded around the new handwashing taps donated by the Red Cross, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health. They giggled as they scrubbed their hands with soap, proudly showing their parents what they had learned. Some mothers whispered that they would now place similar handwashing stations at home.

The church notice board, once filled only with choir schedules and baptism announcements, now carries colorful posters on Mpox symptoms and Ebola prevention. Worshippers pause to read them after prayers, often carrying the information back to their neighbors.

“These habits are not just for Sunday,” Rev. Ssalongo emphasized. “They are for every day, for our families, and for our community. When we protect our health, we protect our future.”

At St. Luke’s, faith and health now walk hand in hand. And in a parish once vulnerable to rumor and misinformation, the church has become a sanctuary not just of prayer, but of resilience.