news 6 August 2026 Nile Post
JEEMA Demands Suspension of Monthly Clean-Up Due to Cholera Risk
The Justice Forum (JEEMA) party is urging the government to halt the mandatory monthly cleaning exercise, citing the potential for a cholera outbreak due to uncollected garbage accumulating in urban areas, especially as the rainy season begins. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/361612/jeema-urges-government-to-suspend-mandatory-cleaning-exercise-over-cholera-fears
Opposition party, Justice Forum (JEEMA), has raised serious concerns regarding the government’s mandatory monthly cleaning exercise. The party argues that the continued presence of uncollected waste in towns and cities, a result of the recent exercise, poses a significant public health threat.
JEEMA spokesperson, Dr. Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko, highlighted that the accumulated garbage, if not promptly removed, could lead to the spread of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera, with the onset of the rainy season. He stated, “With the rainy season now underway, Uganda faces a serious risk of a cholera outbreak.”
The party is calling for an immediate suspension of the exercise until effective waste collection and disposal systems are established. Dr. Nsereko emphasized the need for adequate logistical support to ensure timely waste management. “We call upon government to immediately suspend the mandatory monthly cleaning exercise until adequate systems, logistics and disposal capacity are put in place to manage the waste generated,” he urged.
Furthermore, JEEMA advocates for wider consultation and better coordination among relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Health, local governments, and technical teams, before implementing future sanitation initiatives. They also stressed the importance of public sensitization to prevent disruptions and build confidence in such programs.
“Public health cannot be gambled with. A cholera outbreak at this time would be catastrophic and would erode years of progress in sanitation and disease prevention,” Dr. Nsereko warned, urging the government to adopt a more coordinated waste management strategy to protect public health.