The Buganda Kingdom Minister for Community Self Help, Environment, Water and Gender, Mariam Nkalubo Mayanja, has urged residents to prioritise hygiene and sanitation in their communities, saying cleanliness is a shared responsibility necessary for public health and community dignity.
Mayanja made the remarks during a community clean-up exercise organised by Stena Hill Secondary School in Lukuli, Nanganda, Makindye Division as part of the school’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Students and staff participated in cleaning various areas within the surrounding community.
Speaking at the event, Mayanja, a minister in the Buganda Kingdom government, praised the school for promoting civic responsibility and community service among students and residents.
“We must ensure that our communities and public spaces reflect the high standards befitting a major city in Uganda. Neglecting sanitation is unacceptable. While we work to keep these areas clean, we also need to cultivate habits that prevent disease and maintain the dignity of our neighborhoods,” she said.
She encouraged residents and business owners to properly manage waste, follow hygiene regulations, and avoid dumping garbage in streets, drainage channels, and other public spaces, warning that poor sanitation contributes to disease outbreaks.
Mayanja commended Stena Hill Secondary School for engaging students in practical community service, noting that such initiatives help young people understand responsibility, public hygiene, and environmental protection.
The Attorney General of the Buganda Kingdom, Christopher Bwanika, who co-founded the school, also praised the community for participating in the clean-up exercise and emphasised the importance of community engagement and sanitation awareness.
“I thank the students for their dedication and for educating the community. Their efforts exemplify how civic engagement can positively impact both Buganda and Uganda. We hope other communities adopt similar practices to maintain hygiene and prevent waste-related hazards,” he said.
Bwanika pointed to Rwanda as a regional example in waste management and public cleanliness, encouraging Ugandans to adopt similar practices to improve sanitation and environmental safety.
The clean-up exercise covered areas including Kirombe, Kiwempe, Nanganda and surrounding neighbourhoods, where students and teachers collected garbage and cleared public spaces.
Following the exercise, Minister Mayanja planted a tree at the school as a symbol of environmental conservation and sustainability.
The event was also attended by the Chairperson of the Gender Board in the Buganda Kingdom, Fatuma Nakazzi.