Gender Ministry Urges Local Leaders to Mobilise Communities for National Cleaning Day

What the report says

Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has urged local government leaders to step up mobilisation for the country’s monthly National Cleaning Day, with a particular focus on women, young people and other vulnerable groups. In a letter dated October 28, 2026, Acting Permanent Secretary Alex Asiimwe wrote to the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority, chief administrative officers and town clerks, praising the rollout of the sanitation exercise and asking leaders to strengthen participation at community level.

According to the ministry, reports from Community Development Officers suggest the initiative is already improving sanitation, public health conditions and cleanliness in towns and trading centres. Asiimwe said the government wants to build on that progress by making environmental stewardship a stronger national value and by encouraging citizen ownership of cleanliness efforts as part of the broader development agenda.

The ministry also instructed local authorities to provide active oversight, support Community Development Officers and submit monthly progress reports on achievements, challenges and recommendations. Under the implementation framework, the ministry is responsible for community mobilisation, behaviour change and safety guidance for participants.

The National Cleaning Days Initiative was approved by Cabinet in 2025 and later given formal guidance through a 2026 circular from the Office of the Prime Minister. The next cleaning day is scheduled for October 31, 2026. The report places the programme in a wider context of community-based sanitation efforts seen in other countries, including Rwanda’s monthly Umuganda.