Hygiene watch- Our buses do not have garbage disposal systems

By Gerald Tenywa

LOOK around your seat in that taxi or bus and you will most likely find banana peelings, polythene bags, empty boxes and bottles. It is a common trait and for those travelling up-country the journey is not pleasant.

Samuel Musitwa, a food vendor at St. Balikudembe Market, says she once had nasty experience when a bus passenger vomited and used a cloth to cleaned up the vomit.

The passenger then stashed the cloth under her seat. The stench hovered over the bus, causing Musitwa to throw up as well. The driver was not bothered but continued driving on.

“I will never forget that incident because I lost my dignity as a human being and the bus operators did not help me, “ he says.

Adding: “In most cases, motorists are only interested in money. They ignore the hygiene and welfare of the passengers. Whatever happens next on the bus, after paying the fare, is none of their business.”

In most buses, the odour is repulsive. The smell of roasted maize, meat, cassava and body odour fills the atmosphere.

Peter Mukisa, a resident in Kampala says to beat this smell, one has to buy something to eat.

Some travellers particularly those from the fish landing sites travel with fish aboard the bus. Some people travel with chicken which litter the buses with droppings.

Capt. Emily Otekat, the MP for Serere County, says both passengers and motorists do not mind how they dispose of their garbage.

“It is a common scenario to see waste like polythene bags and mineral water bottles being thown out from vehicles. People do not care about their environment,” he says.

In a country where there is no law regulating disposal of waste, bus operators put the onus on passengers to ensure they dispose off waste. On the other hand, the passengers believe the responsibility is on the bus operators to find means of getting rid of the garbage.

Francis Mawanda, the chairperson of Centre for Allied Bus Drivers Association, a non government organisation, says waste disposal is a national issue similar to road safety although it is neglected.

“The population needs to be sensitised on how to responsibily dispose garbage and the effects of littering the environment.

The drivers and bus operators’ role should be limited to reminding passengers and providing garbage bins but we do not have funds to create awareness.”

Yunus Kigundu, a veteran driver says: “Ugandans should wake up because the problem goes beyond a single bus company. The roads are already covered with rubbish.

Many bus operators either do not care or have a negative attitude driven by the notion that the city is already dirty. This culture has contributed to the growing problem of careless disposal of waste.”

Kiggundu gives the example of Rwanda, where the law compels bus drivers to ensure proper disposal of waste. “It is criminal to litter rubbish in Rwanda.

Some of the buses that transport passengers to and from Rwanda, such as Jaguar, have sacks for disposal purposes.

He says the Centre for Allied Bus Drivers Association has tried to involve the National Environment Management Authority, but inadequate funds are stifling any attempts to improve the situation.

“The bus operators need dustbins, posters and awareness so that they can also sensitise the passengers,” he says.

Some bus operators insist it is an issue that can only be sorted out by policies.
However, some companies like Gaagaa Bus Services are not waiting for Government to make policies to address the issue of waste management but rather leading by example.

James Nyakuni, the managing director of Gaagaa says people’s lives are more precious than anything, so we strive to maintain good hygiene.

“I used to see rubbish being thrown out of cars at one time we almost caused an accident, after a bottle thrown out of a bus hit a small car, causing the driver to lose control,” he adds.

“When we started the company, we looked at the weaknesses of our competitors and hygiene was one of them.”

To Nyakuni, a bus is like a sitting room, so it should be clean and organised at all times.

“We have a water dispenser, which people can use to rinse their mouth or wash their hands after going to a place of convenience.

We need the works ministry to construct bus terminals at popular stopovers like Karuma Falls on the Kampala-Gulu highway so that passengers can access waste disposal facilities and be able to ease themselves.”

Fighting the problem of waste disposal requires the concerted effort of citizens, stakeholders and the Government.

As the Government grapples to find a solution, it is up to individuals to take responsibility for their environment.
“It is important to be the change you want to see,” says Nyakuni.