Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo has criticised the government’s National Cleaning Day initiative, warning that the country is not adequately prepared to handle the waste that will be collected during the exercise.Balimwezo said while promoting cleanliness is a good idea, authorities failed to properly plan the programme by engaging stakeholders and putting in place the necessary waste management systems before launching it.
He questioned how garbage collected across the country would be transported and disposed of, noting that many areas lack enough trucks and proper dumping sites.“How will you clean up the entire nation when you don’t even have trucks to carry away the collected garbage? In some places, we don’t even have where to put this garbage,” Balimwezo said.
The Lord Mayor revealed that Kampala generates about 3,200 tonnes of waste every day, yet only a portion is collected due to limited capacity. He warned that the cleaning exercise could leave heaps of rubbish along roads if there are no immediate arrangements to transport and dispose of the waste.
Balimwezo stressed that Uganda needs sustainable waste management systems, adequate equipment and public participation, arguing that cleaning campaigns alone cannot solve the country’s sanitation challenges. He maintained that the goal of keeping Uganda clean is important, but insisted the National Cleaning Day programme was rolled out before the country was fully prepared.(For adverts, inquiries news, send us a message on +211929244599)
About the Author
