Residents of Bubajjwe Zone in Bwaise I, Kawempe Division, have appealed to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to construct more public toilets, saying the few existing facilities are already full and pose a growing health threat.
With nowhere else to go, many locals have resorted to using polythene bags as makeshift toilets.
The concerns were raised during a community cleaning exercise led by KCCA Executive Director Shalifah Buzeki ahead of the upcoming citywide sanitation competitions.
She joined residents in unclogging drainage channels, sweeping roads, and collecting heaps of uncollected rubbish.
“We have very few toilets, and even those are already full. That’s why people end up using polythene bags,” one resident said.
The area chairperson, Julius Lule, said waste management remains a major problem in Bwaise I, with garbage collection inconsistent and illegal dumping on the rise.
“In this area, garbage is not collected properly. Many people dump waste in uncompleted buildings,” Lule said, adding that some residents discard rubbish at neighbours’ doorsteps early in the morning as they leave for work.
Locals also urged KCCA to engage landlords on providing designated waste disposal spaces without demanding upfront payment from tenants.
“We want KCCA to talk to landlords so that they can give tenants space to dispose of garbage without charging us before we even throw anything away,” a resident said.
Buzeki said the cleaning exercise was part of preparations for sanitation competitions that will involve all parishes in Kampala, aimed at encouraging communities to take greater responsibility for their environment.
“We are doing this as we prepare for the sanitation competitions, which are aimed at promoting better hygiene across the city,” she said.
She urged residents not to rely solely on the authority.
“Don’t wait for KCCA to come and clean for you. We cannot be present in every area every day,” ms Buzeki said.
KCCA hopes that the competitions, along with ongoing cleanup campaigns, will motivate communities like Bubajjwe Zone to improve sanitation and abandon the dangerous practice of using polythene bags as toilets.
