The government has declared the last Saturday of every month a mandatory National Cleaning Day, during which all Ugandans will be required to participate in community clean-up activities as part of efforts to improve sanitation and prevent disease outbreaks.
The three-hour exercise will run from 7:00 am to 10:00 am, with non-essential movement prohibited, businesses closed and only emergency and security vehicles permitted on the roads.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announced the initiative at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala, alongside officials from the ministries of Health and Local Government, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Uganda Police Force and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Nabbanja said the initiative stems from a Cabinet resolution passed on August 11, 2025, during a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, which approved the establishment of a nationwide public cleaning day.
She said poor sanitation and hygiene account for approximately 75 per cent of diseases reported in the country, citing malaria, diarrhoea and typhoid among the most common illnesses linked to unhygienic environments.
Using Kampala as an example, Nabbanja said the city generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of solid waste daily, yet only 50 to 60 per cent is collected and properly disposed of.
She said the uncollected waste blocks drainage channels, pollutes the environment and increases the risk of disease outbreaks. Quoting ministry of Health statistics, Nabbanja said about 33 children die every day from diseases associated with poor sanitation and hygiene.
She said the initiative is also anchored in Article 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Ugandan the right to a clean and healthy environment while placing a duty on citizens to protect it.
“The National Cleaning Day initiative will run from 7:00 am to 10:00 am on the last Saturday of every month. During this period, all Ugandans are expected to participate in organised cleaning activities within their communities, including roads, health facilities, drainage systems, markets, places of worship, schools and other public places,” Nabbanja said.
She added that unnecessary movement of people and vehicles will be prohibited during the exercise, while businesses will be required to remain closed throughout the three-hour period.
Nabbanja directed all local governments to spearhead community mobilisation and identify priority areas requiring clean-up.
She said detailed implementation guidelines will be issued following the official launch of the programme this Saturday, July 25, at Kisenyi in Mengo, which will be officiated by Vice President Jessica Alupo.
Health minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi urged Ugandans to embrace the initiative, saying improved sanitation is essential for public health. Responding to concerns raised by members of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, whose day of worship falls on Saturday, Baryomunsi said the timing of the exercise had been deliberately set in the early morning to minimise disruption.
“We have deliberately set these early hours of the day to enable people to carry out their other activities later. Secondly, we are not meant to offend any of the beliefs of Ugandans. But I also want to ask, do SDA members also fall sick on Saturday? Let me quote the words of Jesus in the Bible. He said you can rescue your cow or sheep immediately when it falls into a pit. So let us all participate as much as possible,” Baryomunsi said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) James Ochaya said the police are prepared to enforce compliance with the directive, adding that the force has the experience and capacity to implement the restrictions, drawing on lessons learnt during enforcement of Covid-19 measures.
Nabbanja said President Museveni had directed the police and other security agencies to ensure strict compliance with the monthly exercise, which will be conducted under the theme, “A Clean Uganda is Everybody’s Business.”
1. This is a wonderful initiative. But I wish we also have plans to address the root of the accumulation of Public waste in form of reckless littering. Most trading centres are simply a public dumping ground. Let people be sensitised and strong measures implemented on littering. If citizens develop the habit of proper waste disposal, we would have cleaner public spaces.
2. On the designated day, are there arrangements to collect the refuse generated during the exercise. Remember that these days each household pays for colldction and disposal of the refuse they generate. Who then will be responsible for collecting and disposal of the rubish of that day? I see a situation where we shall have heaps of garbage left by roadsides and it develops into a new unregulated rubbish heap.
I hope such concerns are addressed so that this great initiative thrives.
Of course cleaning the environment of this country is a 24, 7 programme every month for the whole year. Unfortunately for the Health department it is expensive. For the Local administrative governance where are the local leadership elections all the way to the last village out of a total of 71214 Ugandan villages. And for the National Environment Management Authority fraternity, corruption is the heart beat. The misuse of power that is dishonest, fraudulent, or illegal behavior such as bribery, embezzlement, or nepotism and so on. Exactly what does NEMA plan to do with the thousands of Kilograms of rubbish as collected in Kiteezi and elsewhere in this country while the former Mayor responsible for the hazardous pile up of rubbish, is incarcerated for maximum sentence of jail in Luzira national prison? It is going to be very difficult to see and own a very clean country of NRM Uganda for now 45 years and counting!
During Idi Amin’s time there was keep Uganda clean operations, are we back to that era. Just asking
I personally support this initiative. If I were in Uganda, I would be among the first on the streets with my cleaning equipment.
When I was in secondary school in Arua, we regularly took part in community clean-up exercises. We would go into town with our brooms, clean the streets, collect and burn the rubbish, and then return to school. It was both enjoyable and a powerful expression of civic responsibility and patriotism.
Rwanda has successfully implemented a similar approach for many years and continues to demonstrate its value.
That said, those who hold public cleaning contracts should also be held accountable for the funds they receive. Community participation should complement (not replace) the responsibilities of contractors and local authorities.
I sincerely hope people will support this initiative because it is an important one. If we embrace it and consistently keep our neighbourhoods clean, we could substantially reduce the burden of communicable diseases and the health risks associated with poor environmental sanitation and pollution within a relatively short period.
If this National Cleaning Day initiative gains momentum, it could also become a powerful platform for citizens to advocate for broader environmental reforms, including a nationwide ban on plastic bags. Together, these measures would make our communities cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable for future generations.
Hello, SDAs keep Sabbath from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. The 4th commandment (Exodus 20:8-11 KJV) indicates the work is done 6 days of the week and on the 7th day, Sabbath, no work is done.
If there is an emergency rescue to be performed, we will perform it. But planning a cleanup does not qualify as a emergency. Please consider an exemption for Sabbath keepers to perform their cleanup on Sunday instead.
This would allow them to honor the Bible Sabbath and I’m certain they would gladly participate. God will bless your country for honoring the day He sanctified at creation (Genesis 2:1-3 KJV). Thank you.
Thank you so much our president
And our government for the hygiene
Program, you have saved our life and
Our money thank you may God bless you
Very good one and a first i have seen in my lifetime of 40 years..I fully support it. I propose Mr. Baryomunsi listens to the request of Adventist Ugandans who are willing to participate but on a Sunday since that’s one day of the month.
CONTRACTED GARBAGE COLLECTION COMPANIES IN MUNICIPALITIES MUST CARRY AWAY THE COLLECTED RUBBISH FOR DISPOSAL TO AVERT CATASTROPHY OF CHOLERA AND TYPHOID after citizens have done their part.
LOCAL LEADERS MUST NOTIFY THEM EARLY ENOUGH .