A shortage of garbage trucks has slowed waste collection across the capital, prompting Kampala Capital City Authority to warn that delays in evacuating waste could undermine ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and public health.
KCCA Executive Director Sharifa Buzeki said the authority is grappling with an inadequate fleet, with several trucks out of operation, limiting its capacity to promptly collect and transport garbage from communities.
“We have been having very few trucks, and some are not operational. This has been a challenge in helping us evacuate more waste,” Buzeki said after a weekend clean-up exercise in Lugoma, Kawempe Division.
The city authority has been conducting weekly clean-up campaigns dubbed Weyonje since February 2025, targeting areas prone to poor sanitation.
The initiative has contributed to the reduction of garbage heaps and the clearing of blocked drainage channels, particularly in Kawempe Division.
However, officials say the gains are increasingly threatened by delays in transporting collected waste to disposal sites.
Buzeki cautioned that failure to address the logistical gaps could reverse progress made so far, as uncollected garbage continues to pose serious health risks, including potential outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.
“The clean-up exercises are helping, but if we do not remove the waste on time, we risk returning to where we started,” she said.
To address the challenge, KCCA is engaging the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development to secure funding in the next financial year for the procurement of additional garbage trucks, as well as broader support to strengthen waste management operations.
Despite the constraints, Buzeki said the authority will sustain the weekly clean-up drives, describing them as essential in promoting behavioral change and encouraging residents to take responsibility for maintaining a clean environment.
The campaign has also attracted support from public figures, including Ugandan singer Karole Kasita, born Carole Namulindwa, who is serving as a KCCA brand ambassador.
Speaking during the same clean-up exercise, Kasita urged residents to adopt consistent hygiene practices, emphasizing that lasting sanitation improvements depend on individual effort rather than reliance on authorities.
“We came today to clean for you, but tomorrow you must clean for yourselves,” she said. “This cleanliness is for your own good. It keeps you healthy and helps you live better lives.”
Kasita said artists have a responsibility to use their influence to promote positive social values, particularly among young people, including cleanliness, disease prevention, and healthy living.
Her remarks align with KCCA’s broader strategy of using community engagement and public sensitization to complement infrastructure investments in waste management.
City officials say rapid urbanization and increasing waste volumes continue to put pressure on existing systems, making both resource investment and public cooperation critical to sustaining sanitation efforts.
