COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHINES AT MAKINDYE DIVISIONs SANITATION WEEK -KCCA

COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHINES AT MAKINDYE DIVISIONs SANITATION WEEK

PUBLISHED — 13th, June 2024

The community of Makindye Division came together on Thursday to celebrate the end of the Sanitation Week under the inspiring theme "Clean and Green, Pave and Paint."

The event, held at Gogonya Nsambya, showcased a united community committed to cleanliness and environmental stewardship. Organized by the local cleaning group 7 Hills, the event drew significant attention and participation.

Throughout the week, members of 7 Hills and the community actively engaged in cleaning the drainage systems, sweeping roads, tidying home yards and frontiers, advocating for proper waste disposal, and desilting, among other sanitation activities.

At the closing ceremony of the sanitation week, Dorothy Kisaka, the Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), delivered a powerful message of empowerment and future-oriented goals.

"This is just the beginning for you as a cleaning team. There is so much more that you can do because you are young and there many opportunities available to you. Aspire to go to the next stage of recycling the garbage collected so that your enterprise grows" Kisaka said, addressing the dedicated cleaners of Makindye Division.

Kisaka assured them of the government's support. "H.E the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said Uganda is set for take off and has called upon every Ugandan to join the money economy"

She urged them to to embrace the President's message that prosperity is achievable if everyone participates in selling a good or a service. "No one should remain outside the money economy in Uganda because the budget has included the youth, the women, the business community, and there is something for everyone. "So keep up the good work, don't give up, keep working hard"

The rotational nature of Sanitation Week across the division was also emphasized, promising a broader impact across various communities.

"Cleanliness of the city is what will show that you are working," Kisaka remarked, commending the cleaners for their discipline and dedication to their roles.

The event was graced by the presence of notable figures, including Sarah Kanyike, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Affairs, and Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso, the former spokesperson of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and Kampala Central Division Mayor Salim Uhuru among others.

Byekwaso urged the community to take personal responsibility for their surroundings.

"If we always wait for the Mayor Uhuru or the council to clean for us, we are not going to clean the city," she stated.

Byekwaso underscored the importance of citizen responsibility, as enshrined in the Uganda Constitution, in maintaining both cleanliness and security in the city.

Sonko Abu, Director of Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, expressed their commitment to working together to ensure the cleanliness of the city. "We promise to work with you to ensure our city is clean," Sonko declared, reinforcing the collaborative spirit that defined the day.

The event also featured stalls, showcasing the innovative work of 7 Hills, who displayed products made from recycled waste. There was also a health tent offering free treatment and checkups.

The festive atmosphere was heightened with a series of games and sports, activities that Brigadier Byekwaso described as key to community engagement.

A football match between 7 Hills and Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, drew enthusiastic crowds. The match ended in a decisive 5-0 victory for 7 Hills, showcasing not only their athletic prowess but also the spirit of community and teamwork, with the winners proudly taking home a trophy.