Kawempe Division scoops Weyonje Sanitation Challenge 2025 award

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Kawempe Division has emerged the winner of the Weyonje Sanitation Challenge 2025, following a tense one-month competition focused on sanitation and waste management, and has taken home a cash prize of sh5 million.

The executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Sharifah Buzeki, praised Kawempe staff for exhibiting exemplary waste management practices and commended all other divisions for participating in the challenge.

Buzeki appealed to all divisions to sustain good sanitation and waste management practices to keep the capital clean. She made the remarks during the Weyonje Sanitation Challenge awards ceremony held at Kitante Primary School in Kampala on December 23, 2025.

Rubaga Division emerged first runner-up and received sh4 million, Central Division finished second runner-up with sh3 million, Nakawa placed third and took sh2 million, while Makindye finished fourth and received sh1 million.

The KCCA executive director, Sharifah Buzeki (left), hands over a dummy cheque of sh2m to Nakawa Division officials for being the third runners up of the sanitation challenge 2025 awards during the awards handover ceremony at Kitante Primary school on December 22, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

Additional awards were also presented during the ceremony. Central Division was recognised for best green spaces, Makindye for producing the best video, Kawempe for best health inspection, Nakawa for best innovation, Rubaga for solid waste management, and 7Hills for handling faecal matter.

All participating divisions walked away with trophies and plaques.

Buzeki tasked Kampala town clerks and divisional leaders to ensure that workers are paid on time during the festive season. She conducted a roll call of leaders, asking each whether cleaners had been paid for November and December.

Cleaners from Kawempe Division complained that they had not received their November pay, prompting the executive director to summon Central Division town clerk Douglas Nsubuga, who explained that the payment process was ongoing.

“What’s causing the delay? Buzeki asked.

She added that she had already signed and approved the payment.

On the issue of SACCO funds for each division, Buzeki urged town clerks and leaders to ensure that the money is remitted to designated accounts.

She thanked President Yoweri Museveni for supporting KCCA and ensuring that the city receives adequate resources to manage its operations.

Buzeki assured KCCA leadership that more cleaners would be recruited in the next financial year following the expansion of the city’s road network. She revealed that she had already written to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development regarding the matter.

Addressing concerns about protective gear such as gumboots, reflectors and gloves, Buzeki said the funds would be sent to SACCO accounts. This drew murmurs from cleaners, who expressed fears that the money could be mismanaged by corrupt officials.

Buzeki directed the KCCA director of public health, Dr Sarah Zalwango, to ensure that town clerks fulfil their responsibilities, particularly the timely payment of workers, noting that the law is clear on the matter.

The Weyonje Sanitation Challenge is a campaign aimed at encouraging sustained behaviour change that goes beyond short-term clean-up exercises to long-term sanitation maintenance and safe waste management practices.

The event concluded with the cutting of a cake.