The Microfinance Support Centre (MSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government's National Cleaning Days initiative, saying a clean environment is fundamental to sustainable wealth creation under programmes such as Emyooga.
MSC, together with Emyooga beneficiaries, joined the inaugural National Cleaning Day held on Saturday at Usafi Market Taxi Park in Kisenyi Ward III. The nationwide exercise, launched by the government, will now take place every last Saturday of the month.
Wearing their signature yellow shirts and carrying brooms, spades and other cleaning tools, Emyooga beneficiaries joined thousands of Ugandans in cleaning Usafi Market, the Kisenyi suburbs and surrounding areas.
Speaking after the exercise, Microfinance Support Centre Head of Communications Tadeo Atuhura said the institution believes wealth creation begins with healthy communities.
"As Microfinance Support Centre, we are proud to be part of this process. As an institution, we champion wealth creation and transform the livelihoods of the active poor," Atuhura said.
He noted that MSC continues to empower Ugandans through affordable financing, skills development and support to SACCOs.
"We ensure that people have access to affordable credit, capacity building and the opportunity to work together through SACCOs. We work with these groups to promote socio-economic transformation," he said.
Atuhura emphasized that good health is directly linked to productivity and wealth accumulation.
"You cannot create wealth if you are not healthy. We say, 'Healthy mind, healthy body'—you must be healthy to create wealth."
He added that beneficiaries of the Emyooga programme have already received government seed capital and should protect those investments by maintaining clean environments.
"The Emyooga groups have received the initial seed capital. Many have received additional funding, while others are receiving a third round of support. It is very important for them to work while they are healthy."
Atuhura pledged that MSC would continue participating in the monthly cleanup exercise.
Emyooga beneficiaries also welcomed the initiative, saying it complements the government's investment in wealth creation.
Peter Kivumbi, Chairperson of the Usafi Market Retail and Kitchen Zone B Emyooga SACCO, thanked President Yoweri Museveni for introducing both the Emyooga programme and the National Cleaning Days initiative.
"We appreciate and thank President Museveni for this important initiative. Today, the cleanup exercise has been launched here at Usafi Market Taxi Park, and we have participated fully," he said.
Kivumbi said Emyooga funding has enabled many traders to improve their businesses.
"President Museveni gave us seed capital through the Emyooga initiative. Our businesses are functioning well, we are earning reasonable incomes, and we are grateful."
He called on Ugandans to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean.
"We encourage everyone to clean their surroundings—where they live, work and conduct business. Let us keep our country and workplaces clean," he said, adding that cleanliness is essential for healthy and productive communities.
Launching the National Cleaning Days initiative, Vice President Jessica Alupo thanked Ugandans for embracing the exercise and described sanitation as one of the pillars of disease prevention.
"Uganda has two approaches to fighting disease. One is curative and the other is preventive," she said, adding that sanitation and hygiene remain among the most effective preventive measures.
Alupo urged Ugandans to view cleanliness as a personal responsibility.
"Cleaning is not optional. It is essential and reflects a sense of responsibility and patriotism from each and every one of us."
She also linked a clean environment to economic transformation, saying healthier people contribute more effectively to national development.
"A healthy population is a wealthy population. Government wants you to implement livelihood programmes such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model when you are healthy."
The Vice President urged citizens to make cleanliness a daily habit.
"Let us make cleanliness a daily habit, not an occasional activity. Each one of us should play our part."
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said the initiative had been developed over the past year and would reinforce the government's household income agenda.
"I want to thank President Museveni for this initiative. We spent a whole year preparing this programme."
She said healthy communities are more productive and urged Ugandans to normalize cleaning their homes and workplaces.
"National Cleaning Days strengthen our commitment to improving household incomes because healthy people are productive."
Nabbanja called on Ugandans to fully embrace the campaign.
"A clean Uganda is everybody's responsibility."
She added that changing people's attitudes toward sanitation is key to national development.
"If we embrace this initiative, we shall become agents of change in our communities and transform people's mindset."
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said Cabinet designated every last Saturday of the month as National Cleaning Day because many illnesses can be prevented through improved sanitation.
He urged Ugandans to voluntarily participate in the exercise, noting that most diseases affecting the population are preventable.
"Up to 75% of the diseases affecting our population are preventable, and many of them are directly linked to poor cleanliness and hygiene."
Baryomunsi said enforcement should begin with individual citizens.
"The first people to enforce this are ourselves as Ugandans. What is important is for us to appreciate why we must keep our environment clean."
He appealed to Ugandans to turn the monthly exercise into a lasting culture.
"We want to make this a culture. Let us keep our environment clean at all times, whether in markets, public places or our homes."
The official launch was held at Usafi Market Taxi Park in Kisenyi Ward III and was attended by Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, Ministers Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and Rukia Nakadama, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, religious leaders, officials from the Microfinance Support Centre, and hundreds of Emyooga beneficiaries.
