Makindye mayor Yasini Omari has criticised ministers who failed to turn up for the government’s mandatory monthly cleaning exercise today, saying they should resign if they cannot follow directives they helped put in place.
Speaking to journalists during the cleanup at Kibuli in Makindye, Omari said a shortage of garbage trucks had undermined the exercise.
“We started by cleaning our places since morning. However, there are no garbage trucks to collect this garbage. We are also unfortunate that some of our residents, including ministers, have missed this campaign,” Omari said.
The government declared every last Saturday of the month a mandatory cleaning day, requiring citizens across the country to clean their homes and workplaces.
Omari praised residents and local leaders who took part, saying the exercise was meant to improve sanitation and cut down on disease outbreaks in communities.
But he said several prominent residents, including ministers living in Makindye, stayed away despite knowing about the directive and being part of the government that introduced it.
“We have so many ministers residing in Makindye, but they never came out. They stayed indoors,” he said.
He said he had opened an investigation into why the ministers were absent and called on the president to ensure that any minister who skips the exercise resigns.
Omari also raised concern about the lack of funding for the campaign, saying there was no budget for fuel or tools to collect garbage on the day.
Some residents welcomed the government’s directive but said garbage trucks should have been arranged before the campaign began. They argued it made little sense to sweep up rubbish and sewage only for it to sit uncollected in the streets.
Mixed compliance across Kampala
Meanwhile, compliance with the exercise varied in other parts of Kampala, including Wandegeya, Kalerwe, Kyebando and Mpererwe.
Streets in these areas were largely empty, with only a few pedestrians about. Essential workers were allowed through roadblocks after getting clearance from police manning the checkpoints.
Some market vendors took part in the cleanup, but others refused, leaving their stalls and the drainage channels around them unattended.
Many of these channels were clogged with sewage, polythene bags and plastic bottles, blocking the flow of water. Residents blamed the blockages partly on the lack of proper tools for garbage collection.
Most shops were closed for the day, apart from clinics, and residents made an effort to keep their business premises clean.
However, some complained that the government had mobilised the public too late for the exercise to be properly organised.
Others questioned why the government continued funding the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) despite what they described as its failure to carry out its core mandate.
The nationwide cleaning exercise was launched by Vice President Jessica Alupo at Kiti Zone in Kisenyi Parish, Kampala Central.
