By Ben Musanje
The Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Chris Baryomunsi, has declared war on poor sanitation, challenging Ugandans to make cleanliness a daily culture as Government moves to introduce nationwide cleanliness competitions, with cities, districts and communities set to battle for top sanitation awards.
Speaking during National Cleaning Day activities in Lira City, Baryomunsi said keeping Uganda clean must go beyond the monthly National Cleaning Day exercises, insisting that every citizen has a responsibility to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
“Every day should be a cleaning day in our homes and communities. We want Uganda to remain clean all the time,” he said.
In a move aimed at sustaining public participation in sanitation campaigns, the Minister announced plans to introduce cleanliness competitions among cities, with awards for those that demonstrate outstanding sanitation and environmental management practices. The initiative is also expected to extend to districts and communities.
The proposed competitions are intended to encourage healthy competition among local governments while promoting a sense of responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings.
Baryomunsi commended residents of Lira for their impressive participation in the National Cleaning Day exercise, noting that sustained involvement in previous cleaning activities had contributed to improving the city’s environment.
He urged households, institutions, local leaders and communities to maintain the momentum, warning against treating cleanliness as an activity that only matters when Government officials, police or local authorities are watching.
The Minister emphasised that proper hygiene and sanitation are essential in preventing disease outbreaks, protecting public health and improving the general quality of life.
He also noted that maintaining a clean environment was particularly important as Lira prepares to host activities associated with the upcoming African Games.
On waste management, Baryomunsi called on Ugandans to embrace proper waste separation, particularly ensuring that electronic waste (e-waste) is not mixed with ordinary household garbage.
He encouraged households to separate plastics, electronic waste, organic waste and other materials at the source to support effective collection, recycling and reuse.
The Minister also highlighted Government efforts to promote waste recovery and value addition, including initiatives to transform organic waste into fertilisers and recover reusable materials, turning what is often considered rubbish into valuable resources.
He challenged Ugandans to develop the same discipline they demonstrate in personal hygiene and apply it to keeping their homes, workplaces, streets and public spaces clean.
“Cleanliness should become part of our mindset, tradition and culture. Whether someone is watching or not, the environment around us must remain clean,” he emphasised.
The National Cleaning Day activities in Lira brought together residents and other stakeholders in a collective effort to promote sanitation, responsible waste disposal and environmental protection.
With the proposed cleanliness competitions, Government hopes to inject fresh momentum into sanitation campaigns, placing cities, districts and communities in the spotlight as they strive to demonstrate better environmental management.
Baryomunsi urged Ugandans not to wait for the next National Cleaning Day to pick up a broom, stressing that a clean Uganda must be built through everyday action and collective responsibility. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
