KAMPALA — Ugandans will be required to suspend business activities and participate in mandatory community cleaning exercises for three hours on the last Saturday of every month under a new government programme aimed at tackling the country’s growing sanitation crisis.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Thursday during a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, where she unveiled the National Cleaning Days Initiative, a Cabinet-approved programme championed by President Yoweri Museveni.
The initiative, which carries the slogan “A Clean Uganda Is Everybody’s Responsibility,” will see all Ugandans participate in cleaning activities from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on the last Saturday of every month.
“The Government of Uganda is pleased to announce the commencement of the implementation of the National Cleaning Days Initiative, a national programme approved by Cabinet under Minute No. 246 (CT 2025) during the Cabinet meeting held in Entebbe on August 11, 2025, under the chairmanship of His Excellency the President,” Ms Nabbanja said.
She added that the programme supersedes an earlier communication that had proposed cleaning exercises between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
The Prime Minister said the move is intended to address Uganda’s preventable disease burden, which remains largely linked to poor sanitation and environmental management.
“I want to start by reminding Ugandans that 75 per cent of our disease burden is preventable. This burden includes diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, typhoid and others, which are directly linked to poor sanitation and environmental management,” she said.
According to the Prime Minister, Kampala alone generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of solid waste every day, yet only 50 to 60 per cent is collected and safely disposed of.
“This leaves significant amounts of waste to clog drainage channels, pollute the environment, and increase the risk of disease outbreaks,” she noted.
Ms Nabbanja further revealed that poor sanitation continues to claim the lives of children across the country.
“About 33 Ugandan children die every day from diseases associated with unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene,” she said.
the minister for health Dr Chris baryomosi welcomed the cabinet decision saying if properly implemented will reduce on the rate at which communicable disease’s spread and also help prevent disease’s related to poor sanitation and hygiene such as cholerae, Malaria and diarrhea.
Constitutional Duty
The Prime Minister reminded citizens that maintaining a clean environment is not merely a government obligation but a constitutional requirement.
“Articles 17(j) and 39 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda state that it is the duty of every citizen to create and protect a clean and healthy environment, and that every Ugandan has the right to a clean and healthy environment,” she said.
She conveyed greetings from President Museveni, whom she credited for initiating the programme.
“I bring you warm greetings from H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, who initiated the National Cleaning Days and advocated for its adoption as a national programme,” Ms Nabbanja said.
Vice President to Launch Initiative
The National Cleaning Days programme will officially be launched on Saturday, July 25, 2026, by Vice President Jessica Alupo, who will represent President Museveni at Kiti Zone in Kisenyi III Parish, Kampala Central Division.
“Her Excellency the Vice President will officially launch this initiative on behalf of H.E. the President on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Kiti Zone, Kisenyi III Parish, Kampala Central Division at 7:00 a.m.,” the Prime Minister announced.
The Vice President is expected to participate in the inaugural cleaning exercise alongside Cabinet ministers, religious and cultural leaders, local government officials and members of the public.
Businesses to Close
In one of the most far-reaching directives under the programme, government announced that all businesses will be required to close during the designated cleaning hours.
“Unnecessary movement of persons and vehicles is strictly prohibited during the three hours of cleaning activities,” Ms Nabbanja said.
She added: “Exemptions will only be made for genuine emergencies and essential services, such as ambulances, fire and rescue services, and security operations.”
The Prime Minister urged the public to make prior arrangements to avoid inconvenience.
“For three hours, let Uganda stop and clean. During this time all businesses shall remain closed,” she said.
Residents will be expected to participate in organised cleaning exercises in markets, schools, health facilities, places of worship, roads, drainage channels and other public spaces.
Local Leaders Tasked
Ms Nabbanja directed local leaders across the country to take charge of mobilisation efforts.
“I call upon leaders at all levels to lead by example and actively mobilise the population to participate,” she said.
“In particular, I direct the LC I, LC II, LC III chairpersons, Parish Chiefs and LC V chairpersons to mobilise the population and identify critical areas for cleaning.”
She emphasised that the initiative is not intended to replace everyday sanitation practices.
“The National Cleaning Days Initiative does not replace our daily responsibility to maintain cleanliness in our homes and the whole environment. Rather, it provides a regular opportunity for collective action to address sanitation challenges and promote lasting behavioural change,” she said.
Enforcement Measures
Government has also outlined strict enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.
Under the implementation guidelines, President Museveni will serve as the overall lead champion, while the Office of the Prime Minister will provide policy oversight and strategic leadership. Resident District Commissioners will spearhead political mobilisation, with the Ministry of Health acting as the technical lead.
speaking on behalf of the Uganda police D/IGP James Ochaya assured the public that police has the capacity to handle any person who may disobey the directive recalling how the police managed the situations during the lockdown but he called on the public to strictly observe the presidential directive and avoid any form of misbehaviour arguing Ugandans as this is both a personal and community benefits.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance will oversee public awareness campaigns, while local governments will coordinate community mobilisation, waste collection and enforcement of sanitation by-laws.
The Uganda Police Force and other security agencies have been tasked with ensuring strict compliance.
“Participating in the National Cleaning Days Initiative is a civic responsibility and is not optional,” the Prime Minister said.
She warned that individuals who fail to comply with lawful public health notices, create public nuisances, illegally dump waste, obstruct public health officials or violate the implementation guidelines without lawful exemption will face legal action.
Such offences, she said, will attract penalties under the Public Health Act, Local Governments Act, National Environment Act and relevant local authority ordinances.
Call for National Unity
In her concluding remarks, Ms Nabbanja appealed to Ugandans to embrace the initiative as a shared national responsibility.
“Fellow Ugandans, a clean Uganda cannot be achieved by Government alone; it requires the commitment of every citizen,” she said.
“Let us embrace this initiative and make responsible waste management a lasting national culture. Together, let us build a cleaner, healthier, more productive, and prosperous Uganda.”
The National Cleaning Days Initiative marks one of the government’s most ambitious public sanitation campaigns in recent years and is expected to significantly reshape how communities across the country manage waste and environmental hygiene.
