community 21 September 2026 Nile Post
Nsambya Residents Embrace Community Cleaning Beyond National Day
In Nsambya, residents, local leaders, and organizations have transformed Uganda's National Cleaning Day into an ongoing initiative for neighborhood sanitation and hygiene, demonstrating community-led responsibility. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/372098/beyond-national-cleaning-day-nsambya-residents-take-charge-of-their-neighbourhood
Residents of Nsambya are actively taking ownership of their surroundings, extending the spirit of Uganda’s National Cleaning Day into a continuous effort for community-led sanitation. This past weekend saw inhabitants of the Gogonya area, in Nsambya Central, join forces with local officials and community partners to clear rubbish and clean drainage channels.
The initiative, organized by Brass for Africa in collaboration with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), aligns with the government’s push for a mandatory National Cleaning Day on the last Saturday of every month, under the theme “A Clean Uganda is Everybody’s Business.”
Area Councillor Tusubira Fredrick Boban emphasized that addressing Kampala’s significant waste challenge requires proactive resident involvement. “Good hygiene, good health, good sanitation starts with you as an individual,” Boban stated, urging citizens not to wait for official cleanups but to take initiative, with government support following their lead.
Kampala faces a substantial waste management issue, generating an estimated 2,000 to 25,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, with only a portion being collected. Unmanaged waste poses environmental and health risks, often blocking drainage systems.
Local leaders are focusing on behavioral change alongside cleanup efforts. Ssebyayi Francis, LC1 Chairman of Gogonya II, implored residents to cease dumping waste in trenches and drainage channels. “The purpose of this cleanup is not only to support us, but also to teach us what we can do ourselves, keeping the drainage channels clean and making sure we do not dump rubbish or waste in them,” he remarked.
Brass for Africa, through its Country Director Ronald Kabuye, views this as part of its broader health and community engagement work. Kabuye noted that Nsambya faces increasing WASH-related health risks, especially in informal settlements, and stressed that clean, safe environments are foundational to healthy communities. He added that collective responsibility is key to lasting change.
Josephine Aboth, Makindye Hub Coordinator for Brass for Africa, confirmed that such sanitation events are monthly activities, integrated with their music and life-skills programs to educate and engage youth and families. This approach aims to foster sustainable hygiene practices, with similar community cleanups planned for Namuwongo and Katwe.