By KT Reporter
Authorities in Nadunget Town Council in Moroto district are struggling to manage solid waste as the population rapidly grows. The town council, located 10 kilometers from Moroto town, has become a bustling economic hub following the establishment of a cement factory and other developments that have attracted job seekers from across the region.
The factory, which is expected to employ more than 3,000 people, has drawn hundreds of casual labourers who have settled in Nadunget trading centre, worsening garbage accumulation and overstretching infrastructure. Although the council has provided waste bins, they remain largely unused, and heaps of litter continue to line the streets.
The situation is compounded by limited access to toilet facilities, pushing residents into open defecation and creating a significant public health concern. Attempts by residents to report the matter to authorities have yielded no action. Ruth Najore, a resident, said she approached town council officials over hygiene concerns but was ignored.
“I went to the town council offices and found some officials. I talked to them about garbage issues, but they never gave me their attention,” Najore said. “Everyone was on WhatsApp chatting, and when I got done talking, one of them just said that they had taken note of my concern, and the issue ended there, no action taken,” Najore warned that poor hygiene directly endangers residents’ health.
Moses Lotyang, another resident, said Nadunget’s growing population demands proper waste management systems. “The town council authorities should develop mechanisms for managing the garbage because they can’t avoid it when the population increases,” Lotyang said. He added that Nadunget is emerging as a major settlement as Moroto edges toward city status.
“Many people have rented here, so we want the council to step up their efforts to manage the garbage,” Lotyang said, urging officials to sensitize communities on proper waste disposal. Mary Gorreti Longora, the female district councilor representing Nadunget, acknowledged the crisis and admitted that while rubbish bins were supplied, the community was never sensitized on their use.
She pointed out that Lolain cell is the most affected, with rampant open defecation due to the absence of toilets. Longora said waste challenges are particularly evident around homes where local alcohol—Kwete and Marwa—is brewed. She warned that failure to intervene could expose residents to cholera and other hygiene-related diseases.
John Bosco Lomongin, the health inspector for Nadunget Town Council, said maintaining a clean environment is a shared responsibility. He criticized residents for ignoring repeated sensitization efforts. “Several community dialogues have been held on garbage management, but the people have deliberately failed to listen,” Lomongin said. He blamed littering on households brewing local alcohol and warned that the council had now resorted to enforcement.
“We have resolved as a town council never to hold any dialogue, and now we want to launch operations to arrest those with garbage around their areas,” Lomongin warned. He added that people without toilet facilities would also face arrest.
“Our operations shall start with the arrest of village chairpersons, village health teams, and other community leaders without toilet facilities to teach others a lesson.” “Others are defecating openly, is that sense? We all value life and our health. Why would a reasonable person choose to stay in a dirty environment?” Lomongin asked.
However, John Lokwii, a resident of Nakapelimen ward, opposed the enforcement approach. He argued that the council lacks moral authority to arrest people without toilets when its own facilities are inadequate. “The town council headquarters has one toilet facility that is full, and it’s in a dilapidated state without a roof,” Lokwii said. He challenged authorities to address their own sanitation gaps before threatening residents.
Statistics reveal alarming hygiene conditions. In 2023, the local government assessment put latrine coverage in Nadunget Town Council at 67%, while independent verification showed 76%. Yet the 2024 National Population and Housing Census paints a stark picture: only 148 out of 1,138 households—about 13%—have access to improved sanitation, leaving 964 households, or 85%, still practicing open defecation.
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