KCCA: NO PAYING FOR GARBAGE COLLECTION ON CLEANING DAY

Kampala residents will not pay for garbage collection on Saturday August 29, as the city joins the National Cleaning Day, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has announced.

Instead, residents have been urged to clean their homes, compounds and neighbourhoods and bring the garbage to the trucks that will be deployed across the city.

The message comes today as the city authorities put the final touches on preparations for the cleaning exercise, with City Executive Committee (CEC) members led by Deputy Lord Mayor Farida Nakabugo inspecting garbage collection trucks in Kampala Central, Rubaga and Nakawa divisions.

The inspection was aimed at confirming the readiness of the fleet and waste collection teams ahead of the exercise.

“We are bringing the trucks. You bring the commitment,” Nakabugo said, urging residents to take advantage of the free collection to clean up their surroundings.

The National Cleaning Day, set for Saturday, August 29, is expected to bring together residents, businesses, institutions and city authorities in a nationwide effort to improve cleanliness and environmental management.

For Kampala, where between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of garbage are generated every day, the exercise presents an opportunity to clear accumulated waste from communities and public spaces.

KCCA has strengthened its waste collection capacity by licensing nine private companies to supplement its own fleet.

Eight of the nine licensed companies have a combined capacity of 1,669 tonnes of garbage per day.

When combined with KCCA's own capacity of about 500 tonnes per day, the city will have an estimated waste evacuation capacity of more than 2,100 tonnes daily.

The approved waste collectors include Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture Ltd for Kampala Central, Hill Top Enterprises Ltd for Kawempe South, YoWaste Ltd for Kawempe North, MTSL Energies Ltd for Lubaga South and Bigseal Holdings Ltd for Makindye East.

Others are Ecoserv Ltd for Nakawa West, De Waste U Ltd for Nakawa East and Biohaz Waste for Makindye West.

Dr Judith Nalukwago, the Executive Secretary for Social Services, and councilor representing Makindye III called on residents to turn up for the exercise and make cleanliness a collective responsibility.

She urged communities not to wait for city authorities to do everything, but to take responsibility for their immediate surroundings.

Residents have consequently been encouraged to gather their waste, bag it properly and take it to the collection trucks deployed in their areas.

The exercise is expected to cover residential areas, trading centres, roadsides and other public spaces where garbage has accumulated.

KCCA officials say the free collection is meant to encourage maximum participation and ensure that waste generated during the cleaning exercise is promptly evacuated.

Normal charges resume

After the National Cleaning Day, normal waste collection charges will resume.

KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuweabine said residents in informal settlements classified as urban poor will pay Sh1,000 per 50kg bag, while other domestic households and commercial premises will pay Sh3,000 per 50kg bag.

Institutions, including schools, churches, mosques and temples, will pay Sh40,000 per load.

The rates were approved by the KCCA Council in October 2024 and will apply to routine waste collection services across Kampala.

According to KCCA, the charges were designed to keep waste collection affordable while ensuring that service providers have the resources required to sustain their operations.

The authority will, however, continue to handle waste generated from Government common-user facilities, including public markets, KCCA taxi parks and KCCA health centres.

As the trucks prepare to roll out on Saturday, the city authorities are calling on residents to turn the cleaning day into more than a one-day campaign.

And for Saturday, there is no bill to worry about.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer