Uganda's monthly National Cleaning Days initiative is at risk of failing to produce lasting improvements in sanitation without dedicated government funding, stronger waste management infrastructure and consistent public participation, according to the Ministry of Health. Cate Namyalo, a senior environment officer at the ministry, said during a reflection workshop on the programme that while the initiative had raised awareness of sanitation-related diseases and encouraged collaboration between government agencies, communities and private sector organisations, significant implementation gaps remained unresolved.
Local governments lack the resources needed to sustain the cleaning exercises effectively, Namyalo said. Authorities reported shortages of cleaning equipment, protective gear and the capacity to transport and safely dispose of collected waste. She also highlighted gaps in reporting standards, noting that some local government authorities were submitting reports late while others were not reporting at all. The ministry identified the need for clear indicators to measure public participation, the volume of waste collected, institutions involved and sanitation hotspots addressed during each exercise.
Namyalo called for the government to incorporate monthly cleaning activities into the work plans and budgets of ministries, departments, agencies and local governments, arguing that the programme could not depend indefinitely on voluntary contributions. She stressed that without functional waste management systems, cleaning exercises would produce only temporary results. She described how after cleaning operations, waste heaps reappeared just kilometres away from cleaned areas, demonstrating the need for prompt transportation of collected rubbish to appropriate disposal sites.
The ministry also urged stronger partnerships with private waste collectors, civil society organisations and development partners to improve waste collection, transportation, recycling and safe disposal. Namyalo called on local councils to mobilise residents, assign responsibilities within communities and coordinate cleaning activities beyond the designated national cleaning days. She emphasised that while political leaders' participation was important, it needed to translate into lasting behavioural change among households.
The Ministry of Health called for sustained radio and television campaigns to promote sanitation nationwide, emphasising that cleanliness should become a daily practice rather than a once-a-month activity. Namyalo said stronger coordination among the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister and local governments would be critical to monitoring progress and addressing implementation challenges.
For Ugandan households and businesses, the funding gaps mean that sanitation improvements from the monthly cleaning days may not be sustained without government action to equip local authorities and establish proper waste disposal systems.