By Leonard Kamugisha Akida
NATIONAL
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has directed leaders at all levels to mobilise the public and enforce sanitation laws ahead of the second National Cleaning Day scheduled for August 29, 2026.
Nabbanja said enforcement of sanitation requirements should be fair and aimed at promoting compliance and lasting behavioural change rather than punishment.
She made the remarks during a joint government agencies press briefing on the National Cleaning Day at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said participation in the national cleaning exercise is a civic responsibility and warned that people who litter, illegally dump waste, block drainage channels or obstruct authorised public health officials would face enforcement action.
She said the enforcement would be guided by the Public Health Act, Local Government Act, National Environment Act and applicable local authority by-laws and ordinances.
“Enforcement should promote compliance and lasting behavioural change,” Nabbanja said.
The second National Cleaning Day will take place on the last Saturday of the month (August 29), from 7:00am to 10:00am, with the main event at Kyaliwajala UMEA Primary School grounds in Kira Municipality, Wakiso district.
The exercise will be conducted nationwide, covering cities, districts, municipalities, town councils, sub-counties, parishes and villages.
During the three-hour exercise, movement of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians will be restricted, except for garbage collection trucks, medical and ambulance services, security personnel, tourists, health workers and people undertaking scheduled international travel who will be required to have evidence.
Nabbanja said the cleaning day would not replace the daily responsibility of households, institutions, businesses and communities to keep their premises and public spaces clean.
She urged households and businesses to avoid littering and indiscriminate dumping, keep drainage channels clear, properly store waste and use authorised waste collectors.
She also called for waste segregation at household level and encouraged the public to treat waste as a resource through recovery and recycling.
Nabbanja directed local government leaders, including resident district commissioners, chief administrative officers, mayors, town clerks, councillors and sub-county chiefs, to mobilise communities, identify areas for cleaning and ensure cleaning materials are available.
They were also directed to communicate details of the exercise at least one week in advance and plan for the collection, transportation and disposal of waste.
The Prime Minister said Seventh-day Adventists would remain at home during the designated cleaning hours because of their Sabbath observance.
She said they would attend their places of worship after 10:00am and undertake their National Cleaning Day activities on Sunday.
Church leaders were asked to oversee the arrangement to ensure members participate fully while observing their day of worship.
State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere warned against misleading the public that the cleaning exercise has no legal basis.
She said the requirements are provided for under various laws and local government ordinances.
“Let us clean our country with love,” Nameere said, urging Ugandans to comply with the 7:00am to 10:00am restriction.
Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda also urged RDCs to mobilise communities, map areas requiring cleaning and coordinate the provision of cleaning materials and waste collection services.
The Government has made the National Cleaning Day a permanent programme to promote sanitation, responsible waste management, public health and civic responsibility.
