NATIONAL SANITATION WEEK LAUNCHED 2025 WITH CALL FOR IMPROVED HYGIENE

The National Sanitation Week was launched with a community clean-up exercise in Kimwanyi and Busia villages in Katanga, in Kawempe Division Kampala.

The Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng led the exercise held on Wednesday March 19.

Armed with boots, spades, forks, and rakes, participants engaged in the desilting of trenches and clearing of waste, underscoring the importance of maintaining proper sanitation in urban areas.

Themed "Sanitation for Dignity and Inclusiveness," the event brought together government officials, health experts, and local leaders, all emphasizing the crucial role sanitation plays in public health and national development.

Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng set the tone for the event by demonstrating proper handwashing techniques before delivering her speech.

She emphasized the direct link between sanitation and health, stating, "When you are clean, the risk of diseases is lower. It is a commitment of the NRM government to ensure access to healthcare facilities, but prevention starts with maintaining proper hygiene."

State Minister for Primary Health Care Margaret Muhanga echoed this sentiment, highlighting that many of the health challenges faced in Uganda are preventable through proper sanitation practices.

"The disease burden we are struggling with can be significantly reduced if we all observe proper hygiene and sanitation," Muhanga said.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, stressed the need for a behavioral shift towards responsible waste disposal. "We can't develop as a nation when we still dump garbage indiscriminately or release sewage into drainage systems. Hygiene must begin at home. Our country cannot progress if we don’t change our behaviors," she asserted.

The Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Benon Kigenyi, reiterated KCCA’s commitment to improving sanitation and solid waste management in the city.

He noted that poor sanitation disproportionately affects the most vulnerable communities, particularly those living in slum areas.

"There are 62 slums in Kampala where people have the lowest sanitation indices, including limited access to toilets, clean water, and proper waste disposal systems. A population that spends more on healthcare due to preventable diseases remains trapped in poverty," Kigenyi said.

KCCA Executive Secretary for Health, Olive Namazzi, urged residents to take sanitation seriously, advising them to keep their homes clean, dispose of garbage responsibly, and sort waste before disposal. She highlighted ongoing KCCA initiatives aimed at improving sanitation in the city, including the Weyonje Initiative, toilet-emptying campaigns, and various community-driven sanitation improvement programs.

Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjogi wrapped up the event with a powerful statement: "Sanitation is health. When we maintain cleanliness, we protect ourselves and our loved ones from preventable diseases. It is a shared responsibility that we must all embrace."