The Fatboy Show’s co-host Olive Najjuma has expressed support for the government's enforcement of noise pollution regulations against Anglican churches.
According to Olive, people living in communities with such establishments suffer from noise pollution both day and night, denying them a peaceful stay and sleep.
“Most times, their sound is at the maximum even when it is unnecessary. You get into a church with around 20 worshippers but with a sound for the entire village to hear. On a Sunday morning, with or without plans of going to church, the sound wakes you up. You cannot comfortably sleep because there’s a church next door!”
Her concern follows the requests of pastors from Kajjansi and Katabi town councils in Wakiso district to the government, to review the Noise Standards and Control Regulations Act of 2003, weeks after Pastors Edward Mukisa and Herman Ssebunje from Nkumba Miracle Centre in Katabi town council were arrested and charged for noise pollution.
In a press briefing attended by more than 40 pastors, the preachers argued that soundproof items are expensive given that most of their worshipers are low-income earners.
James Onen, aka Fatboy, commended the government for heeding public concern with necessary action being taken.
“For the people that have long complained about noise pollution, they have something to give the government credit for,” he said. Continuing, “can we move onto the street preachers and get them too off the streets?”
He cited the Bible scripture of Matthew 6:5, And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
Verse 6: But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Fatboy said that if pastors understood this scripture, there would not be noise pollution regulations and asked believers to share this with their pastors as food for thought.
The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy, Olive, and Sarah every weekday from 6 am to 10 am on RX Radio.