IBANDA
Ibanda joined the rest of the country in observing the National Cleaning Day, with residents and leaders registering a high level of compliance during the nationwide sanitation exercise.
Following a directive by the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, residents of Ibanda District, together with local leaders, the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), police led by the District Police Commander (DPC), schools, traders, and even passengers who were travelling, participated in the exercise.
The event was launched at the Ibanda Municipal Council offices, and residents from Bufunda, Bisheshe, Kagongo wards, and other parts of the district actively took part without any incidents.
The Assistant Resident District Commissioner for Ibanda, Richard Banjo, guided traders at Ibanda Saza Market on how to conduct the exercise.
"We want to work well with you, and we appreciate your compliance. We shall clean this place, including the public toilets and other facilities, because cleanliness benefits all of us," Banjo said.
Ibanda District Chairperson Happy Herbert Mayanja said the initiative had come at the right time, noting that the district has been grappling with poor waste disposal.
"I am very pleased that this day has been launched and that people have turned up in large numbers to participate. People have been dumping waste indiscriminately, but this exercise will help improve waste management and sanitation. I thank everyone who has participated," Mayanja said.
As the exercise progressed, officials noted that there were only a few vehicles available to collect the accumulated garbage.
Ibanda Municipality Mayor Deusdedit Murinde described the shortage of garbage collection vehicles as one of the major challenges encountered during the exercise.
"We need more garbage collection vehicles so that once waste is collected, it can be transported immediately. This remains a challenge because garbage should be removed as soon as possible before it becomes a breeding ground for disease-causing organisms," Murinde said.
The Secretary for Works at Ibanda Municipal Council, Edith Mukaishaza, acknowledged that although the exercise was largely successful, several challenges were experienced, particularly the limited capacity to transport the collected waste.
"We did not have enough manpower or vehicles today, but we promise that next time we shall improve our capacity so that once garbage is collected, it is transported immediately," she said.
Silajji Mugabe, a resident of Ibanda, welcomed the initiative, saying it would help keep towns and cities clean.
"This government initiative is a good one. In my area, vendors have been dumping garbage in drainage channels, blocking the flow of water. The public toilets at Saza Market were also in a poor state, but they have now been cleaned," Mugabe said.
Another resident, Andrew Niwamanya, expressed concern over poor waste management practices, saying garbage is often collected but left along roadsides or burned instead of being properly disposed of.
"If this rubbish is left behind, it will accumulate and begin to smell. This initiative is good, but authorities should ensure that the collected garbage is properly transported and disposed of," Niwamanya said.
