KCCA tasked to intensify sensitization and inspection of slum areas

 By Vivian Agaba and Cynthia Aber

In a move to improve garbage collection and general sanitation in slum areas, residents of Kinawataka Zone have asked Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to intensify sensitization and inspection of slums areas so that residents learn more about the hazardous health risks involved in littering garbage.

Edith Namukose, supervisor KCCA, Luzira-Portbell, Nakawa division said most residents of Kinawataka zone are big headed, do not want to collect their garbage in one place to be collected by KCCA trucks.

“Most residents in these slums areas especially around Kinawataka zone keep garbage in their houses and wait to dump it on the roadside very late in the night or pay someone to do it early in the morning. We have told them on several occasions to put garbage in one place to make work easy for the KCCA tracks to collect, but have refused to listen,” said Namukose.

Namukose said this during a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity in which Spear Motors offered KCCA a Mercedes- Benz E-Conic 2628 to collect garbage around Kinawataka market.

Diana Gahima, another resident said constant community sensitization on the importance of hygiene is the right way to address the problem of poor attitude towards garbage collection.

“People in slums litter garbage anyhow and do not mind. They constantly need to be taught about good hygiene and change their attitude. In Rwanda, we were not born clean, it is through sensitization that Rwanda is clean today and that is why is important to sensitize people here, “said Gahima.

Dorothy Nassozi Kisarale, Public Relations Officer, Spear Motors said they received information from KCCA that Kinawaka market  was the dirtiest place around Nakawa and therefore had to act.

“The market being our immediate neighbour, we decided to partner with KCCA, offer them a truck that carries 20 tonnes of rubbish per route. We call upon residents to stop dumping the rubbish anywhere. We have started with Kinawataka market and hopefully we shall have more partnerships with KCCA and clean other areas in the city,” said Nassozi.

KCCA’s Supervisor Solid Waste Management, Josephine Kitaka applauded Spear Motors for their contribution towards realization of one of KCCA’s objectives on service delivery.

“Better service delivery to the people is one of our major objective and we appreciate that companies like Spear Motors come in to support us. We always collect garbage in this zone every Wednesday but residents are in the habit of dumping garbage anywhere,” said Kitaka.

She appealed to residents of Kinawaka zone to always collect garbage, put it in one place and wait for the trucks to take it other than dumping it anywhere, something that could trigger health hazards like cholera outbreak.