Govt moves to fix waste collection gaps ahead of next cleaning exercise
"We take note that the first activity clearly showed that we are overwhelmed. However, this morning, this issue has been largely addressed. KCCA is still moving around collecting waste. In future, we will have more trucks all over the country because it is a national activity," Aceng told Parliament.
Aceng said government will increase the number of garbage collection trucks across the country to support timely transportation and disposal of waste collected during the monthly exercise. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
KAMPALA - The government has acknowledged challenges exposed during the first National Cleaning Day and announced measures aimed at ensuring future exercises are followed by faster waste collection and disposal.
Government Chief Whip Ruth Aceng told Parliament on August 4, 2026, that the inaugural exercise revealed gaps in waste management logistics, but said preparations are underway to improve coordination before the next cleaning exercise on Saturday, August 29.
"We take note that the first activity clearly showed that we are overwhelmed. However, this morning, this issue has been largely addressed. KCCA is still moving around collecting waste. In future, we will have more trucks all over the country because it is a national activity," Aceng told Parliament.
Aceng said government will increase the number of garbage collection trucks across the country to support timely transportation and disposal of waste collected during the monthly exercise.
MPs during Plenary on Tuesday. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
She added that government is seeking partnerships to strengthen the programme and improve waste management capacity.
"We want to promise you that with serious sensitisation, it will be better done and there will be no garbage left around," she said.
Her comments came after Kampala district woman MP Shamim Malende (Kampala, NUP) raised concerns over uncollected garbage left across Kampala and other parts of the country following the first National Cleaning Day.
Speaking during the House sitting, Malende said waste left along roadsides and in communities threatens public health and the environment, affecting the objectives of the exercise held on July 25, 2026. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
"While the initiative was intended to improve sanitation and public health, the collected waste has remained on the roadsides of Kampala and in the communities of Lubaga, Kawempe, Makindye, Central and Nakawa," Malende said.
She called for a clear waste collection and disposal plan before the next exercise.
"I would like the line minister to inform us of the long-term measures which government is putting in place to ensure that future national cleaning exercises are followed by timely waste collection, transportation and disposal," she said.
The monthly National Cleaning Day is held on the last Saturday of every month from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. The initiative aims to improve sanitation, prevent disease outbreaks, protect the environment and nurture a culture of civic responsibility.