By Ben Musanje
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has intervened to give Wakiso District Woman Member of Parliament Betty Ethel Naluyima an opportunity to address guests at the second statutory National Cleaning Day event held at UMEA Primary School in Kyaliwajjala, Kira Municipality.
Naluyima had not been listed among the speakers when the Masters of Ceremonies, Emmanuel Ainebyona, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, and Flora Kiiza, Principal Assistant Town Clerk of Kira Municipality, announced the programme.
However, as Minister for Health Dr Chris Baryomunsi prepared to deliver his speech, Nabbanja, popularly known as “Majegere”, asked him to give Naluyima time to speak.
Naluyima used the opportunity to emphasise that the National Cleaning Day exercise should not be viewed through a political lens, saying cleanliness should be treated as a continuous responsibility rather than an activity undertaken on a single designated day.
“National Cleaning Day is not a matter of politics,” Naluyima said, before recounting her political journey from serving as a councillor to becoming Speaker of Kira Municipality Council, Deputy Mayor during the leadership of Mamerito Mugerwa, and later Wakiso District Woman MP.
She also serves as Shadow Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Naluyima, who described herself as a daughter of Kira, said gender considerations should be incorporated into all aspects of development.
She called for cleanliness to become a routine in communities and not something undertaken only during national cleaning exercises.
Naluyima further noted that Kira Municipality has an important role to play ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Namboole Stadium expected to host matches.
She said Kira must ensure that cleanliness and sanitation in the area are maintained to meet the standards expected during the continental tournament.
Wakiso seeks support to tackle garbage
Wakiso District Chairperson Engineer Ian Kyeyune said the district is strengthening efforts to address the growing problem of garbage accumulation, particularly in rapidly expanding urban communities.
Kyeyune recalled that the garbage challenge in Wakiso dates back to 2001, when he first served as district chairperson.
He said the district introduced a public-private partnership approach to garbage collection, but the rapid growth in population has contributed to an increase in waste generation and accumulation.
He said the National Cleaning Day exercise had provided an opportunity for residents to witness the scale of the problem and mobilise communities to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.
Kyeyune said the district’s new approach would focus on making waste management a responsibility that begins at household level.
He added that Wakiso intends to empower community-based garbage collection committees so that residents can have their waste collected regularly.
He said residents who cannot afford the cost of garbage collection would be supported by the local government.
Kyeyune also appealed for greater support from the central government to enable Wakiso District to effectively implement government programmes.
Kyaliwajjala leaders demand secondary school
The demand for a secondary school in Kyaliwajjala featured prominently during the event, with local leaders saying the rapidly growing community has been left without adequate secondary education facilities.
Edward Kiguli, Chairperson of Kyaliwajjala Zone B, said the area was proud to host the National Cleaning Day event, partly because of its proximity to Namugongo, home to the Uganda Martyrs shrines.
Kiguli said Kyaliwajjala has UMEA Primary School, which releases pupils every year, but lacks a secondary school to accommodate students who complete primary education.
He appealed to the Vice President and Prime Minister to support the construction of a secondary school in the area.
“We have the place, but we do not have a secondary school,” Kiguli said, urging the government to address the gap.
He also raised concerns about the state of roads in the area, saying one of the roads was constructed in 1969 but has never received adequate rehabilitation.
Kiguli further called for the reconstruction of an old road historically used to transport the Uganda Martyrs to Namugongo.
Kira Municipality highlights garbage burden
Kira Municipal Council Town Clerk Benon Yiga hailed the government for selecting Kira to host the second National Cleaning Day exercise.
Yiga said the municipality currently collects about 300 tonnes of garbage every month, reflecting the enormous waste management burden created by the area’s rapidly growing population.
Kira Municipality Mayor said youths had been mobilised to take the lead in the cleaning exercise and sensitisation against irresponsible disposal of waste.
The municipality has more than 600,000 residents spread across its three divisions, with each division having a vehicle dedicated to garbage collection.
The mayor said Kira is one of the most populated areas in the Kampala metropolitan area but continues to face major challenges in providing essential public services.
He particularly appealed to the government to construct a secondary school in the municipality, saying the absence of such a facility was a major gap for a population of its size.
The National Cleaning Day exercise brought together senior government officials, including ministers, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, heads of government agencies, Wakiso district and Kira Municipality leaders, as well as residents.
The exercise was aimed at promoting proper sanitation, responsible waste disposal and community participation in maintaining clean and healthy environments. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
