Namayanja Urges Communities to Take Ownership of National Cleaning Campaign

What the report says

NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja has urged communities in Nakaseke District to treat sanitation as a shared duty rather than something left to government alone. Speaking during a community cleaning exercise at Kapeeka SDA Church, she said regular cleaning helps protect families from diseases linked to poor hygiene, including cholera and typhoid, according to Nile Post.

The event brought together Seventh-day Adventists who were allowed to take part on Sunday because the government’s National Cleaning Day is normally held on the last Saturday of the month, which conflicts with their Sabbath observance. Namayanja praised the turnout despite rainy weather and said residents should adopt cleanliness as part of everyday life, especially in areas she described as facing sanitation challenges.

She said Kapeeka was chosen because of its population and the need to strengthen local hygiene practices. A church pastor, Emmanuel Okoth, said the congregation had committed to the exercise in advance and welcomed the government’s accommodation. Area district councillor Joyce Nakayenga also encouraged residents not to wait for official cleaning days before keeping their surroundings tidy.

The broader context is Uganda’s National Cleaning Day programme, which the report says was being carried out for the third time nationwide since its introduction. The story highlights ongoing efforts to build public participation in sanitation campaigns and reduce preventable disease risks.