By Kabuye Ronald
The government has officially designated the last Saturday of every month as National Cleaning Day, introducing a mandatory nationwide sanitation exercise that will temporarily halt normal activities across the country.
Under the new directive, all Ugandans will be expected to take part in community cleaning activities from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with non-essential movement banned, businesses closed, and only emergency and security vehicles permitted on the roads.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announced the initiative on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala during a meeting attended by officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Local Government, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Uganda Police Force, and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Nabbanja said the programme follows a Cabinet decision reached on August 11, 2025, during a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, after concerns over the country’s sanitation standards and the health burden associated with poor hygiene.
She said government data indicates that nearly 75 percent of diseases in Uganda are linked to poor sanitation and hygiene, with illnesses such as malaria, diarrhoea, and typhoid remaining among the leading public health challenges.
Highlighting Kampala’s waste management challenges, Nabbanja noted that the city generates between 2,000 and 25,000 tonnes of solid waste each day, yet only about 50 to 60 percent is collected and properly disposed of. The uncollected waste, she said, clogs drainage channels, pollutes the environment, and increases the likelihood of disease outbreaks.
She added that reports from the Ministry of Health show that about 33 children die every day from illnesses associated with poor sanitation and hygiene, prompting Cabinet to invoke Article 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Ugandan the right to a clean and healthy environment, as a basis for introducing the monthly exercise.
“The National Cleaning Day initiative will run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 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 spaces,” Nabbanja said.
She explained that all non-essential movement by members of the public and motorists will be prohibited during the three-hour exercise, while businesses will remain closed. Only emergency and security services will be exempt from the restrictions.
Local governments have been tasked with mobilising residents, identifying priority areas for cleaning, and coordinating implementation. Nabbanja also announced that detailed operational guidelines will be issued following the official launch of the initiative at Kisenyi in Mengo on the 25th, where the Vice President is expected to preside.
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi urged Ugandans to embrace the initiative, describing sanitation as a shared responsibility that directly affects public health.
Addressing concerns from members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, whose primary day of worship falls on Saturday, Baryomunsi said the exercise was deliberately scheduled for the early morning to minimise disruption.
“We are not meant to offend any religious beliefs. These hours were selected so that people can continue with their other activities afterwards. As Jesus taught, if your sheep or cow falls into a pit on the Sabbath, you rescue it immediately. We therefore encourage everyone to participate for the benefit of public health,” he said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police 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 from the enforcement of COVID-19 measures.
Nabbanja said the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies have been directed to ensure full compliance with the monthly exercise, which will be conducted under the theme: “A Clean Uganda is Everybody’s Business.”
