Uganda Launches Inaugural National Cleaning Day with Nationwide Shutdown

LCC TV NEWS

KAMPALA, July 25, 2026 — Uganda today observed its first mandatory National Cleaning Day, with Vice President Jessica Alupo leading the inaugural exercise in the Kisenyi neighbourhood of Kampala as the nation came to a three-hour standstill to address worsening sanitation challenges .

From 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., traffic came to a halt, businesses remained closed, and citizens across the country participated in community clean-up activities under the theme "A Clean Uganda Is Everybody's Responsibility" . The initiative, approved by Cabinet chaired by President Yoweri Museveni on August 11, 2025, will now be observed on the last Saturday of every month nationwide .

Addressing a Public Health Crisis

The programme comes in response to alarming statistics on sanitation-related diseases. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announced that approximately 75% of diseases in Uganda are linked to poor sanitation and hygiene, with an estimated 33 children dying daily from preventable conditions such as diarrhoea, typhoid, and malaria .

Kampala alone generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of solid waste daily, yet only 50 to 60 percent is collected and safely disposed of, according to city authorities. The remaining waste blocks drainage channels, pollutes the environment, and heightens the risk of disease outbreaks .

"Uganda has two angles of fighting disease: curative and preventive. They require and need the intervention of all members of the community," Vice President Alupo said during the launch in Kisenyi .

Nationwide Restrictions and Enforcement

The Uganda Police Force enforced a nationwide restriction on movement during the exercise, prohibiting all vehicles, vessels, motorcycles, and bicycles from roads and water bodies except in emergencies . Exemptions were granted for emergency medical services, security vehicles on official duty, and cross-border traffic along major arteries .

Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke urged full compliance, stating that "members of the public are encouraged to remain in their areas, take part in the cleaning exercise, and resume normal activities at 10:00 a.m." . Prime Minister Nabbanja confirmed that participation is a civic responsibility, with enforcement measures drawing on the experience of COVID-19 restrictions .

A Whole-of-Society Approach

The initiative targets citizens aged 18 to 65, with government spokesperson Dennis Patrick Katungi clarifying that those above 65 and willing to participate are welcome, and parents may involve their teenage children . Foreigners residing in Uganda are also required to participate .

"The National Cleaning Days are therefore not just government-led activities or ceremonial events. They are about changing our mindset. Cleaning should begin at the household level and extend to our communities," Vice President Alupo emphasised .

Activities on the day focused on cleaning homes, markets, schools, health facilities, places of worship, roads, drainage channels, and other public spaces . Reports from across the country indicated widespread participation, with Mbale Industrial City Division, Soroti City, and Mbarara City among the areas reporting active community engagement .

Implementation Framework

The Office of the Prime Minister will provide overall policy oversight, while the Ministry of Health serves as the technical lead responsible for implementation, monitoring, and reporting . All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and local governments have been required to appoint National Cleaning Days focal persons and integrate the programme into annual work plans and budgets .

The initiative will be financed through existing government budget allocations, private sector contributions, and voluntary community support . No additional funding will be released for the 2026/27 financial year, with institutions expected to reprioritise existing resources .

A Shared Responsibility

Prime Minister Nabbanja called on all leaders to lead by example and actively mobilise the population. "For three hours, let Uganda stop and clean," she said. "A clean Uganda cannot be achieved by Government alone; it requires the commitment of every citizen" .

The Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, addressed concerns raised by Seventh-day Adventists regarding the Saturday timing, noting that the early morning hours allow for other activities to follow .

Vice President Alupo concluded the launch by urging Ugandans to embrace cleanliness as a daily habit. "Let us make cleanliness a daily habit, not an occasional activity. If each of us plays our part, Uganda will be clean, healthy, and prosperous," she said .