Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has called on Ugandans to take greater responsibility for waste disposal, warning that poor sanitation is contributing to public health problems, urban flooding, and environmental degradation. Nabbanja was speaking in Hoima City on Saturday while presiding over the third edition of the National Cleaning Day, where she said the government plans to enforce waste sorting at source across the country.
Under the proposed system, households, institutions and large organisations will be required to separate waste at the point of disposal, while local governments will be responsible for promoting the practice in communities. Nabbanja said proper waste management should not be left to local authorities alone, urging citizens to take responsibility for keeping their homes and surroundings clean.
She said the National Cleaning Day was also an opportunity to prepare Hoima City for increased activity ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. Hoima is among the Ugandan cities designated to host matches during the tournament, and Nabbanja said the city must maintain high standards of cleanliness as it prepares to receive visitors and attract international attention.
Nabbanja said the government’s sanitation campaign was necessary because a significant proportion of Uganda’s disease burden is preventable through improved sanitation and environmental management. She cited malaria, diarrhea and typhoid among illnesses associated with poor sanitation and environmental conditions.
The Prime Minister said the monthly cleaning exercise is expected to cover homes, markets, roads, drainage channels and other public spaces. She said improperly discarded waste frequently blocks drainage systems, contributes to flooding, pollutes the environment and creates conditions that can facilitate disease outbreaks.
Nabbanja urged schools, businesses, institutions and communities to prepare for and participate fully in the exercise rather than treating National Cleaning Day as a one-off event. Jonard Asiimwe, Minister in the Office of the President in charge of Science, Technology and Innovation, urged Ugandans to participate in the monthly exercise, describing it as part of efforts to build a cleaner and healthier country.
Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato commended residents for participating in the exercise and urged them to maintain proper hygiene and responsible waste disposal beyond the designated cleaning days. Hoima City Mayor Edward Isingoma said the city has embarked on an awareness campaign to encourage residents to dispose of garbage properly.
Hundreds of people, including officers from the Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda People’s Defence Forces, schools, institutions and political leaders, participated in Saturday’s exercise, cleaning roads, markets, drainage channels and other public spaces across Hoima City.
The National Cleaning Day initiative was launched on July 25, 2026, following Cabinet approval under a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach. The government says the programme is intended to improve sanitation, prevent disease outbreaks, protect the environment and promote a sustained culture of civic responsibility.
The programme is designed as more than a monthly cleaning exercise, with the government seeking to establish long-term changes in how households, institutions and communities manage waste. As part of the programme, the government has also announced restrictions on unnecessary movement of people and vehicles during the designated cleaning period. Only genuine emergencies and essential services are exempted-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
