Residents of Mityana Municipality have expressed growing concern over the increasing piles of garbage in different parts of the town, warning that poor waste management could expose the community to disease outbreaks associated with poor sanitation.
Many residents say uncollected waste has become a common sight in several areas of the municipality, creating an unpleasant environment and raising fears of potential health risks. They warn that if the situation is not addressed quickly, it could lead to the spread of hygiene-related diseases.
Some local leaders have also criticized the technical officials responsible for planning and managing the town, arguing that they have not done enough to tackle the worsening garbage problem.
Mityana Municipality is composed of three divisions Ttamu, Central, and Busimbi but residents say all three divisions are currently facing similar challenges of garbage accumulation.
According to them, waste can easily be seen in many parts of the town, which they believe points to weaknesses in coordination and implementation of waste collection services.
“We pay fees for garbage collection, yet the waste remains uncollected in many areas. It is difficult to understand why the situation continues like this,” one resident said.
Local leaders further note that although funds are allocated for waste collection and for maintaining the municipal dumping site, the persistent garbage problem is negatively affecting the cleanliness and overall development of the town.
However, the Town Clerk of Mityana Municipality, Godfrey Kateeba, attributed part of the problem to residents who are reluctant to pay the required garbage collection fees.
“We are working on long-term solutions to address the garbage challenge, but many residents are not paying the fees required for waste collection, which makes it difficult for the municipality to manage the service effectively,” Kateeba explained.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Mityana Municipality, Faustin Mukambwe Lukonge, said the funds used to maintain cleanliness in the town mainly come from locally collected taxes. However, he acknowledged that the municipality continues to face difficulties in mobilizing adequate revenue.
“The money used to clean the town comes from local taxes, but tax collection has not been easy. For instance, out of the expected revenue, we have only managed to collect about seven million shillings,” Lukonge said.
Municipal authorities say they are developing new strategies to strengthen garbage collection and improve waste management. They are also urging residents and business operators to cooperate with the municipality by paying the required fees and supporting efforts aimed at keeping the town clean and safe.