WEYONJE CHALLENGE ROLLED OUT IN RUBAGA

Residents of Rubaga Division on Saturday joined officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in a major community clean-up that marked the launch of the Weyonje Sanitation Challenge in Ssembule A, Ssembule B and Nakayizi zones.

The exercise drew families, local leaders and KCCA staff who swept streets, cleared drains and held household engagements on proper sanitation and hygiene practices.

KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, who led the clean-up, urged residents to make sanitation part of their daily lives, not an occasional duty.

“This should be part of your livelihood, not a one-day event,” Buzeki said. “KCCA will do its part, but communities must manage their waste responsibly. A clean city begins at home.”

To support sanitation efforts, KCCA distributed dustbins to residents to ease sorting at the source. Buzeki encouraged families to make waste separation part of daily routines.

“Teach your children and your domestic workers how to sort garbage,” Buzeki told residents. “Good habits start in the home, and proper sorting reduces the waste that clogs our drainage.”

KCCA’s Director of Public Health and Environment, Dr. Sarah Zalwango, urged local leaders to champion sanitation efforts in their areas. 

She noted that KCCA is currently mapping toilets across the division to determine which ones need upgrading, including galloping toilets and facilities requiring cesspool emptying.

“Local leaders and communities must take the lead in maintaining sanitation,” Dr. Zalwango said.Residents said the activity gave them a platform to voice long-standing concerns, including blocked drains, unsafe toilets and limited waste disposal options.

“This is the kind of engagement we need,” said Jane Nalule, a resident of Ssembule B. “When KCCA comes on the ground, we can show them exactly where the problems are. It gives us confidence that something will be done.”

Others said maintaining cleanliness requires shared responsibility.

“We can’t expect KCCA to solve everything if we don’t change our habits,” said Moses Katongole, a resident of Nakayizi Zone. “If we all work together, these places can stay clean.”

During the exercise, KCCA promoted household garbage sorting and warned against disposing fecal matter or solid waste in drainage channels. Health officers demonstrated how households should separate plastics, organic waste and other materials.

Local leaders also welcomed the initiative. Kabowa Parish Councilor Patrick Male praised residents for turning up in large numbers, while Rubaga Division Speaker Mabirizi commended KCCA for improving drainage and stepping up community sensitization.

The Weyonje Sanitation Challenge is being rolled out across all five divisions of Kampala and will culminate on December 20. The best-performing division will receive a trophy and UGX 5 million. Rubaga, who were runners up last year’s challenge, is hoping to win the crown.

Saturday’s event is part of KCCA’s broader effort to strengthen partnerships with communities and promote cleaner, healthier neighborhoods across the city.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali 

Communication and Media Relations Officer