Wakiso Intensifies Solid Waste Management Drive Ahead of National Cleaning Day

Wakiso Intensifies Solid Waste Management Drive Ahead of National Cleaning Day

Wakiso District has intensified efforts to improve sanitation and solid waste management ahead of the National Cleaning Day, with district leaders adopting new measures to curb illegal dumping, improve garbage collection and promote waste sorting and recycling.

The resolutions were reached during a consultative meeting chaired by Wakiso District Chairperson Eng. Ian Kyeyune and attended by Local Council III chairpersons, Town Clerks, Senior Community Development Officers and members of the District Executive Committee.

Kyeyune urged residents to change their attitude towards waste, saying garbage should be viewed not only as a sanitation challenge but also as a potential source of income.

“Garbage should not only be seen as a problem. It can also be an economic opportunity if we properly sort, recycle and manage it,” Kyeyune said.

Under the new measures, the district will establish sanitation committees to work with health inspectors and communities to identify households that need garbage collection services.

Residents will also be engaged through community barazas to agree on garbage collection service providers and affordable collection fees. Local councils will, in addition, be required to make budgetary provisions for solid waste management.

The district leadership further resolved to strengthen enforcement against illegal dumping by recruiting scouts to identify offenders and enforcing the polluter-pays principle, under which individuals or institutions responsible for improper waste disposal will be held accountable.

Town Clerks were tasked with ensuring that waste management measures are implemented within their respective areas, while schools, churches and other institutions will be encouraged to participate in community sensitisation campaigns.

The district also plans to encourage young people to turn waste collection, sorting and recycling into income-generating activities.

As part of efforts to improve waste management infrastructure, Wakiso District plans to undertake a technical review of Menvu Landfill in Nansana Municipality to explore ways of facilitating waste sorting and recycling. However, the initiative will require authorisation from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

Kyeyune said the district will also seek additional garbage trucks from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to strengthen waste collection.

He added that garbage generated during the National Cleaning Day exercise should be collected and cleared within two days to prevent the accumulation of waste after the exercise.

Kyeyune also reaffirmed his commitment to reviving solid waste management strategies he initiated about 15 years ago, stressing that effective waste management requires sustained involvement of both leaders and communities.

The resolutions come ahead of the National Cleaning Day scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, which will be spearheaded by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja in Kyaliwajjala Ward, Kira Municipality.

Wakiso District leaders have been urged to actively participate in the exercise and use it as an opportunity to strengthen community responsibility for maintaining clean and healthy neighbourhoods beyond the designated cleaning day.