Why Nakawa Green Park needs public sanitation facilities

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OPINION

By Nina Muhooza

Every day, scores of residents, workers, students, and travellers flock to Nakawa Green Park, a vital and serene public space in one of Kampala’s busiest divisions. They come to relax, catch a break from the bustle of the city, and enjoy a patch of green in an ever-expanding concrete jungle. Yet, amid the trees and green grass, one critical facility remains conspicuously absent: a public toilet.

It is not just a missing structure; it is a glaring gap in urban dignity and public health.

The absence of sanitation facilities at Nakawa Green Park is more than an inconvenience. It is an invisible crisis. Visitors, many of whom spend hours in the area, are left with no choice but to relieve themselves in nearby bushes or open spaces. The nearest public toilets are located in Nakawa Market, a distance that’s neither accessible nor practical for many, especially the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.

This kind of neglect sends a dangerous message that public hygiene, dignity, and safety are optional in some parts of our capital.

But this issue goes beyond mere discomfort. It’s a public health risk. Open defecation and urination in urban areas contribute to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea. In a densely populated area like Nakawa Division, such outbreaks can escalate quickly. Worse still, women and girls often avoid these green spaces altogether or resort to unsafe practices when nature calls, compromising their health, safety, and dignity.

We cannot speak of Kampala as a modern and inclusive city if we continue to overlook something as basic as a clean and accessible toilet in one of our most frequented public spaces.

It’s time for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to act. The Green Parks, under KCCA’s stewardship, are prime public spaces that should set the standard for urban planning and public service. Installing well-maintained, inclusive, and secure sanitation facilities at Nakawa Green Park would not only solve a long-standing problem but also demonstrate that KCCA puts people first.

Moreover, sanitation is a human right. According to Sustainable Development Goal 6, access to water and sanitation is essential for everyone. Uganda cannot achieve this goal if its own capital city fails to provide such facilities in places where people gather in large numbers.

Investing in sanitation infrastructure is not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. Cleaner public spaces attract more families, encourage responsible use, reduce littering, and uplift the image of our city. It tells both citizens and visitors that Kampala is a city that works for all, not just for some.

So let us not wait for a sanitation-related outbreak, for another report, or for public outrage. The problem is clear, and so is the solution. KCCA must prioritise the construction of modern, gender-sensitive, and disability-friendly public toilets in Nakawa Green Park and across all city green spaces.

We cannot continue asking where people go. We must provide a place where they can go with dignity. Apart from the toilet, KCCA should also provide benches for people to sit.

The people of Nakawa deserve better. Kampala deserves better. And the time to act is now.

The writer is a Bachelor of Arts student from Makerere University