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Beyond cleaning day: Making cleanliness a daily habit
Kampala generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of rubbish daily, with only about 50 to 60% collected and safely disposed of, highlighting the need for shared responsibility in keeping the environment clean, writes Peter Ainebyoona
Peter Ainebyoona. (Courtesy)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Peter Ainebyoona
As Uganda prepares for the fourth National Cleaning Day on Saturday, 31 October 2026, it is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made since the programme was launched in July. Across the country, communities will once again dedicate time to clean their surroundings as part of an initiative aimed at creating a cleaner and healthier Uganda.
The programme sets aside the last Saturday of every month for people to clean their homes, workplaces and communities. This collective effort is important, especially considering that Kampala alone generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of rubbish every day, with only about 50 to 60 per cent collected and safely disposed of.
Government, local authorities, communities and other organisations are already making efforts to improve cleanliness, and the National Cleaning Days provide an opportunity to strengthen these efforts and bring everyone on board.
The initiative is commendable, but its greatest success will be realised when keeping our surroundings clean becomes part of our everyday lives. Simple actions such as placing rubbish in designated collection points, keeping our homes and workplaces tidy, and keeping drainage channels and public spaces clean can make a significant difference.
Government, local authorities, communities and other organisations are already making efforts to improve cleanliness, and the National Cleaning Days provide an opportunity to strengthen these efforts and bring everyone on board.
The initiative is commendable, but its greatest success will be realised when keeping our surroundings clean becomes part of our everyday lives. Simple actions such as placing rubbish in designated collection points, keeping our homes and workplaces tidy, and keeping drainage channels and public spaces clean can make a significant difference.
A clean environment is not only something we should expect from government and local authorities; each of us has a responsibility to help create it. Indeed, the programme itself recognises that lasting cleanliness requires positive behaviour, community participation and shared responsibility. National Cleaning Day should therefore help us develop habits that continue long after the Saturday exercise has ended.
As we build on the progress of the first three exercises, we should now focus on making cleanliness a lasting part of our culture. Local authorities should continue improving garbage collection and supporting community cleaning activities. Schools should continue nurturing good habits among children by reinforcing the value of keeping their surroundings clean.
Businesses, religious institutions and community leaders can also encourage responsible practices among the people they serve. Families have an important role in reinforcing these habits at home. Most importantly, each of us can contribute by keeping the places where we live, work and gather clean every day.
The National Cleaning Days have given us a valuable platform for collective action. Let us build on it so that keeping our environment clean becomes not simply an activity for the last Saturday of the month, but an everyday habit and a shared source of pride.
The writer is an MBA Student, Makerere University Business School
As we build on the progress of the first three exercises, we should now focus on making cleanliness a lasting part of our culture. Local authorities should continue improving garbage collection and supporting community cleaning activities. Schools should continue nurturing good habits among children by reinforcing the value of keeping their surroundings clean.
Businesses, religious institutions and community leaders can also encourage responsible practices among the people they serve. Families have an important role in reinforcing these habits at home. Most importantly, each of us can contribute by keeping the places where we live, work and gather clean every day.
The National Cleaning Days have given us a valuable platform for collective action. Let us build on it so that keeping our environment clean becomes not simply an activity for the last Saturday of the month, but an everyday habit and a shared source of pride.
The writer is an MBA Student, Makerere University Business School