The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has launched a new citywide cleanliness competition aimed at improving sanitation and strengthening waste-management practices across Kampala’s five divisions.
Speaking during the launch in Bwaise, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki warned that many pit latrines in the area are already overflowing, posing a serious public-health threat.
She said the campaign is part of efforts to promote a cleaner, better-planned, and smarter city.
According to the World Health Organization, Kampala is among the global cities with the highest levels of air pollution, a problem worsened by overcrowding and poor waste disposal in densely populated suburbs such as Bwaise.
Buzeki encouraged residents to take part in the competition by separating biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste, noting that most sanitation challenges stem from poor waste-handling practices.
She added that when it rains, sewage from full pit latrines often floods into homes, heightening disease risks.
Faruk Bulime, head of casual labourers in Kawempe Division, attributed the sanitation problems to poor physical planning by some landlords who construct houses without approved plans or proper drainage systems.
He said narrow drainage channels and the lack of emergency medical response for accident victims continue to hinder cleanup operations.
Data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics shows that Bwaise has more than 2,897 households, with each home estimated to accommodate at least three people, underscoring the pressure on existing sanitation facilities.