Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announced that the directive will take effect on Saturday, July 25, 2026, with all Ugandans expected to participate in community cleaning activities between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Only emergency and essential services, including ambulances, fire and rescue services, and security operations, will be exempt from the closure.
Speaking ahead of the official launch of the initiative, Nabbanja said the monthly exercise is intended to improve sanitation and reduce the country's disease burden, much of which is linked to poor hygiene and waste management.
"I urge all local leaders, businesses and members of the general public to plan accordingly. For three hours, let Uganda stop and recover," she said.
The initiative was approved by Cabinet under Minute No. 246 of 2025 during a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe on August 11, 2025.
Under the programme, Local Council chairpersons at all levels, parish chiefs and other local government officials have been tasked with mobilising residents and identifying priority areas requiring clean-up.
Nabbanja said the monthly exercise is intended to complement, rather than replace, individual responsibility for maintaining clean homes, workplaces and communities.
"The National Cleaning Day Initiative does not replace our daily responsibilities to maintain cleanliness in our homes and work environments. Rather, it provides a regular opportunity for collective action to address sanitation challenges and promote lasting behaviour change," she said.
Government figures show Kampala generates between 2,000 and 2,500 tonnes of solid waste every day, but only 50 to 60 percent is collected and properly disposed of. The uncollected waste frequently blocks drainage channels, contributing to flooding and creating breeding grounds for disease-causing organisms.
The mandatory monthly exercise follows a Cabinet directive issued through Circular No. 1 of 2026, requiring all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, local governments, private institutions, businesses and communities to participate in coordinated clean-up activities on the last Saturday of every month.
Government says the initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve public health, strengthen environmental management and build a culture of shared responsibility for sanitation across the country.