KAMPALA — The Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, and the Director of Public Health, Dr Sarah Zalwango, on Saturday led the #Weyonje Community Sensitization Drive and Cleanup in Kibuli Parish, Makindye Division, calling on residents to embrace proper waste management and environmental hygiene to keep Kampala clean.
The exercise brought together residents of Lubaga, Okiligi and Kakungulu zones, who participated in a community clean-up and received sensitization on responsible waste disposal practices.
Addressing the gathering, Hajjat Buzeki urged residents to make cleanliness a daily habit rather than an activity reserved for community clean-up campaigns. She emphasized that every household and business has a responsibility to protect the city from littering and environmental degradation.
“A cleaner city is everyone’s responsibility. No one should litter in the city under your watch,” she said, urging communities to take ownership of their surroundings.
Dr Sarah Zalwango, the KCCA Director of Public Health, said proper waste management begins at the household level and encouraged residents to separate waste at its source using a two-bin system for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
She also cautioned residents against storing garbage in homes and business premises, saying accumulated waste poses serious public health risks and creates breeding grounds for disease-causing pests.
Dr Zalwango urged residents to pay waste collection fees to KCCA-authorized private waste collectors to ensure timely garbage collection. She noted that licensed collectors are required to provide weekly collection schedules and adhere to them to guarantee efficient service delivery.
The public health director further warned against dumping garbage in drainage channels, road reserves and other public spaces, saying the practice contributes to blocked drainage systems, flooding and disease outbreaks, especially during the rainy season.
John Peter Katumba, the Manager of Big City Holdings Limited (Tubikima), the company contracted to collect waste in Makindye East, said the firm has worked closely with KCCA throughout the Weyonje campaign to improve sanitation in the area. However, he noted that the biggest challenge remains the large volumes of waste generated in households and illegally dumped along roadsides during the just concluded national wide cleaning.
Katumba pledged that the company will increase its manpower and strengthen collaboration with local communities to ensure timely waste collection and maintain a cleaner environment.
Residents were encouraged to maintain clean homes, businesses and neighbourhoods every day and to work closely with KCCA in promoting a healthier and cleaner Kampala.
The #Weyonje Community Sensitization Drive is part of KCCA’s broader campaign to improve sanitation standards through community participation, public education and proper waste management. The initiative seeks to foster behavioural change among city residents while strengthening collaboration between communities and authorized waste collectors in creating a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Kampala.
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