A community-based group operating under the government’s Wealth Creation initiative has launched a year-long sanitation campaign in Mityana District, beginning with the distribution of dustbins to address poor waste disposal, environmental degradation and growing public health concerns within the municipality.
The campaign was officially launched with the handover of the first consignment of dustbins to the Office of the Resident District Commissioner, which will oversee their distribution to selected neighbourhoods, busy trading centres and other priority areas affected by unregulated dumping.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mityana Assistant Resident District Commissioner Waswa Chrizestom Buyondo said the initiative comes at a critical time when the municipality is struggling with increasing levels of littering and poor waste management.
“This campaign is timely,” Buyondo said. “For a long time, Mityana Municipality has faced challenges of indiscriminate waste disposal. These dustbins will help restore order, improve hygiene and encourage residents to take responsibility for keeping their environment clean.”
Buyondo noted that proper waste management plays a key role in improving the quality of life for residents, attracting investment and reducing disease outbreaks associated with poor sanitation.
“A clean town is a healthy town,” he said. “We expect every resident to cooperate once these bins are placed in public spaces. Cleanliness is a shared responsibility.”
Members of the Wealth Creation group said the project is part of wider efforts to uplift communities through practical and affordable solutions that respond to everyday challenges faced by residents.
One of the group’s coordinators said plans are already underway to extend the dustbin distribution to schools, markets and taxi parks in the coming months, alongside sensitisation campaigns on responsible waste management.
“We believe that providing dustbins alone is not enough,” the coordinator said. “We are going to work closely with community leaders to educate people on why a clean environment matters and how they can support this campaign.”
Residents who attended the launch welcomed the initiative, saying it is expected to reduce littering, improve drainage systems and enhance the overall appearance of the municipality.
The dustbin distribution programme is expected to run throughout the year, with periodic monitoring by the RDC’s office to assess its impact and identify areas that may require additional support.
