Uganda National Cleaning Day program

In late July 2026, Uganda introduced a monthly National Cleaning Day, urging households to sweep streets and public spaces on the last Saturday of each month. The launch highlighted community participation, with Mbarara University of Science and Technology leading a campus‑wide cleanup and the government announcing a parallel One Million Avocado Uganda reforestation project.

A week after the inaugural cleanup, residents in several Kampala suburbs, including Bwaise, Munaku, Nabulagala, Kawempe, and Kibuli, reported large piles of uncollected waste. Despite claims from the Kampala Capital City Authority that most waste had been cleared, surveys by the Uganda Radio Network indicated significant backlogs of garbage, foul odours, flies, maggots, and rodents. This led to concerns regarding disease outbreaks and air pollution from residents burning trash.

During this period, Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba rolled out the initiative in Mityana District, emphasizing the expected public health benefits.

By the second National Cleaning Day in late August, the program involved nationwide participation from security forces, including the UPDF, Uganda Prisons Service, and Uganda Police Force, who cleaned facilities such as the Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. However, the initiative faced scrutiny following reports of officers allegedly assaulting pedestrians and forcing citizens to sweep. In response, Police Spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma clarified that while movement is restricted between 7:00 am and 10:00 am to facilitate cleaning, officers are not mandated to force participation. Authorities also expanded exemptions to allow medical personnel, emergency vehicles, and individuals with medical documentation to move during restricted hours.