Jinja City authorities have launched a compulsory monthly general cleaning campaign, requiring traders and other well-wishers to temporarily close their businesses and participate in coordinated garbage collection exercises.
The campaign, dubbed “Keep Jinja City Clean,” is aimed at encouraging members of the public to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in their workplaces and homes.
Leading the exercise, Jinja City Public Health Inspector in charge of the environment, Prossy Nakiito, said the campaign focuses on sensitising traders about the benefits of proper waste disposal.
She explained that the initiative is preceded by one-on-one engagements between city council staff and traders, during which traders are encouraged to close their shops for at least one hour to take part in the general cleaning activity.
Nakiito expressed optimism that the exercise will help improve garbage disposal practices among traders, noting that many of them have already acquired waste bins to store garbage properly as they await collection.
She described the campaign as a turning point in changing public attitudes towards hygiene and sanitation, emphasising the need for individual responsibility rather than overreliance on city authorities.
“Our findings over time have indicated poor hygiene perceptions, where many members of the public believe they can litter irresponsibly because city council has staff paid to clean. However, the general cleaning campaign has shown a clear shift in mindset,” Nakiito said.
She added that the initiative, combined with mandatory handwashing, is key to reducing hygiene-related illnesses among the working population.
Sylvia Nakilanda, a vegetable trader in Jinja Central Market, said decomposing garbage is often openly disposed of within the market, creating an unpleasant odour for both traders and customers.
Nakilanda noted that garbage is collected only once or twice a week, a situation that drives away customers and forces traders to operate along the streets, contrary to the city’s trading order policy.
She said the general cleaning campaign has introduced sensitisation drives encouraging traders to heap garbage in sacks while awaiting proper disposal, a move she believes will help reverse the current trend.
Magret Kikobye, a shop owner in the city, described community participation in garbage collection as a “magic bullet” for ensuring general cleanliness.
Kikobye argued that since most waste is directly or indirectly generated by traders, their involvement in cleaning activities creates a cleaner environment and allows businesses to operate smoothly.
She further expressed hope for a city free from plastic pollution, where residents commit to adopting proper waste disposal practices.
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