Anti-litter squad
May 19, 2003
Every weekend, a squad of schoolboys descend on Magoba lane, pick up all the litter they can see, and take it down in a sack to the nearest KCC rubbish skip.
By Craddock Williams
Every weekend, a squad of schoolboys descend on Magoba lane, pick up all the litter they can see, and take it down in a sack to the nearest KCC rubbish skip. Local households pay them sh500 each for this service. But the service is needed every week. Magoba Lane is the short cut from Kisugu to Kansanga. Many pedestrians use it, and many use it to dump rubbish and worse. Every weekend, the Lane is full of litter again.
Of course, if there were litter bins along this lane, people might learn to use them. In many cities, scattering litter is a crime.
In London, UK, a ‘litterlout’ can get fined £10 if he drops a food package or beercan on the pavement. It is unlikely that such a law could be enforced in Uganda. At the end of Magoba Lane is the Kabalagala police station and barracks. The whole area is scattered with litter, even though KCC empty the local skip from time to time. The boys did not know what a litter bin is, until I told them.
To keep Kampala Clean, everyone needs to know. KCC have received a proposal to have low-cost, easily maintained litter bins made for Kampala streets where litter has been blocking drains, smelling bad, and creating a general health hazard.
Their work may count as child labour, but it is voluntary, does not keep them out of school, and earns them a rate well above what many adults earn in cash a day.
They are looking for other streets in Kampala where they could clean up.
Ends
Every weekend, a squad of schoolboys descend on Magoba lane, pick up all the litter they can see, and take it down in a sack to the nearest KCC rubbish skip. Local households pay them sh500 each for this service. But the service is needed every week. Magoba Lane is the short cut from Kisugu to Kansanga. Many pedestrians use it, and many use it to dump rubbish and worse. Every weekend, the Lane is full of litter again.
Of course, if there were litter bins along this lane, people might learn to use them. In many cities, scattering litter is a crime.
In London, UK, a ‘litterlout’ can get fined £10 if he drops a food package or beercan on the pavement. It is unlikely that such a law could be enforced in Uganda. At the end of Magoba Lane is the Kabalagala police station and barracks. The whole area is scattered with litter, even though KCC empty the local skip from time to time. The boys did not know what a litter bin is, until I told them.
To keep Kampala Clean, everyone needs to know. KCC have received a proposal to have low-cost, easily maintained litter bins made for Kampala streets where litter has been blocking drains, smelling bad, and creating a general health hazard.
Their work may count as child labour, but it is voluntary, does not keep them out of school, and earns them a rate well above what many adults earn in cash a day.
They are looking for other streets in Kampala where they could clean up.
Ends