By Jumah Kakomo
Kampala took a bold step toward becoming a cleaner and healthier city on Saturday as the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) launched the Weyonje Sanitation Challenge 2025 in Kisenyi III Ward, Kiguli Zone, Central Division. The campaign aims to strengthen community-led waste management and inspire lasting behavioural change across all divisions of the capital.
The challenge places communities at the centre of Kampala’s cleanliness efforts, encouraging households and local leaders to adopt sustainable waste-sorting practices that improve public hygiene and reduce environmental risks.
While launching the campaign, KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki applauded residents for their growing commitment to keeping their neighbourhoods clean but reminded them that sanitation must be a continuous effort.
“We are happy to see residents showing up and taking charge. But one day is never enough — we need sustained effort,” she said. “Every time you touch something, whether it’s a bottle or a piece of paper, think about where it should go. Waste management begins with the person who produces it.”
The 2025 Weyonje Challenge is being implemented in partnership with the Makerere University Medical Students Association (MUMSA), U-Report, Fundoo, and UNICEF Uganda. Rewards will be given to the cleanest and best-managed communities in Kampala in recognition of excellence and to encourage greater ownership.
During the launch, KCCA distributed colour-coded waste sacks—green for organic waste and blue for inorganic materials such as polythene bags—to households in Kisenyi III Ward. This system is expected to significantly improve waste sorting at the source and reduce garbage that clogs drainage channels, often triggering flooding during heavy rains.
Buzeki also called on development partners to expand their support for sanitation infrastructure. She noted that although KCCA has constructed several public toilets across the city, the demand for safe sanitation facilities continues to grow.
“We want everyone—institutions, companies, and partners—to join us in expanding access to safe sanitation,” she said. “A clean Kampala is everyone’s responsibility.”
The launch event brought together key leaders including KCCA Director of Public Health Dr. Sarah Zawedde, Love Uganda Chairperson Twaha Ssemakula, Kisenyi III Ward Kiguli Zone Chairman Musa Muleme, MUMSA Vice President and Fundoo member Kenneth Tuyisenge, and various community representatives.
Dr. Zawedde urged residents to take responsibility for keeping the city clean, beginning with their own homes. She emphasized proper waste disposal, sanitation, and hygiene practices to prevent disease outbreaks.
Kiguli Zone Chairman Musa Muleme commended KCCA and its partners for their efforts but urged the Executive Director to require polythene bag manufacturers to financially support the Weyonje Challenge, arguing that their products significantly harm the city’s environment. He also called on KCCA leaders to avoid political interference in city operations, saying it undermines effective service delivery.
Fundoo member Kenneth Tuyisenge welcomed the initiative, noting that KCCA’s strengthened focus on sanitation is deepening partnerships with communities. Pauline Biyinzika of U-Report added that the challenge would motivate residents to maintain cleaner, healthier surroundings and reaffirmed U-Report’s commitment to supporting KCCA.
With the Weyonje Sanitation Challenge now underway and running until 20 December 2025, KCCA hopes to build long-term habits that will lead to cleaner streets, safer communities, and a more resilient urban environment for all residents.
