Uganda is set for a nationwide clean-up campaign after Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja officially launched National Cleaning Days, a monthly exercise aimed at fighting poor sanitation, flooding and disease outbreaks across the country. Starting Saturday, July 25, every Ugandan is expected to put aside three hours from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the last […]
Uganda is set for a nationwide clean-up campaign after Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja officially launched National Cleaning Days, a monthly exercise aimed at fighting poor sanitation, flooding and disease outbreaks across the country.
Starting Saturday, July 25, every Ugandan is expected to put aside three hours from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the last Saturday of every month to clean homes, markets, schools, trading centres, workplaces and public spaces.
The Prime Minister announced the initiative on behalf of government, saying the country can no longer afford the growing problem of poor waste management, blocked drainage channels and increasing disease outbreaks caused by dirty environments.
According to Nabbanja, the campaign is a national call to action that requires every citizen, institution and leader to play a role in keeping Uganda clean.
The Prime Minister revealed that Kampala alone generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of garbage every day, yet only 40 to 50 percent is collected.
The remaining waste is dumped in drainage channels, roadsides, wetlands and open spaces, creating serious environmental and public health risks.
She warned that blocked drainage systems have become one of the biggest causes of flooding whenever heavy rains fall, destroying property and disrupting businesses.
Government says poor sanitation is also contributing to outbreaks of preventable diseases including cholera, typhoid, dysentery, malaria and bilharzia.
Nabbanja noted that stagnant water, poor garbage disposal and blocked drainage channels continue to provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-causing organisms.
She stressed that keeping communities clean is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing illness and reducing pressure on health facilities.
The Prime Minister made it clear that National Cleaning Days are not meant for local governments alone.
Instead, every Ugandan is expected to participate.
Communities are expected to clean homes, compounds, schools, hospitals, markets, churches, mosques, trading centres, offices and public places.
Residents have also been urged to remove stagnant water, clear drainage channels, collect litter, improve waste disposal and observe proper hygiene practices.
Government has directed Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), district chairpersons, city and municipal leaders, mayors, town clerks, LC leaders, cultural institutions, religious leaders and community organisations to mobilise residents for the monthly exercise.
Schools, universities, businesses, factories and markets have also been called upon to actively participate.
Several ministries assigned responsibilities
The initiative will be coordinated jointly by several government institutions.
The Ministry of Local Government will oversee implementation through local authorities.
The Ministry of Health will guide disease prevention and public health measures.
The Ministry of Water and Environment will support environmental conservation.
The Ministry of Education and Sports will mobilise schools.
Security agencies will help coordinate activities while the Office of the Prime Minister will provide overall supervision.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will coordinate activities within the capital.
Nabbanja said the campaign is anchored in Uganda’s Constitution, particularly Article 39, which guarantees every Ugandan the right to a clean and healthy environment.
She also cited the National Environment Act 2019, the Public Health Act, the National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management, and Uganda’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rather than treating cleaning as a one-off campaign, government wants National Cleaning Days to become a permanent culture across the country.
Nabbanja urged Ugandans to take personal responsibility for their surroundings, saying environmental cleanliness begins at household level before extending to communities and the nation at large.
She appealed to citizens to embrace the initiative, describing cleanliness as a shared responsibility essential for protecting lives, improving public health and building a better Uganda.
The timing of the exercise had raised concerns among members of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, whose day of worship is Saturday.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi defended the decision, saying government deliberately chose early morning hours to allow people to participate before continuing with their other activities.
“We have deliberately set these early hours of the day to enable people to carry out their other activities later. Secondly, we are not meant to offend any of the beliefs of Ugandans,” Baryomunsi said.
He urged SDA members and all Ugandans to participate, arguing that protecting public health should be treated as a shared responsibility.
“Do SDA members also fall sick on Saturday? Let me quote the words of Jesus in the Bible. He said you can rescue your cow or sheep immediately when it falls into a pit. So let us all participate as much as possible,” he said.
The deputy Inspector General of Police James Ochaya said the force is prepared to support implementation of the directive, adding that police have the experience and capacity to enforce such national programmes.
