Community Service Drive Aims to Tackle Waste Management and Sanitation Issues

The leadership of Mukono District, led by the Chief Administrative Officer, Elizabeth Namanda, has begun sensitizing residents on hygiene within the district through participation in community service. The team comprised of both political and technical members recently took to Kalagi Trading Center. Activities undertaken have included cleaning markets, clearing water channels, and creating awareness on waste management practices.

The initiative aims at increasing a cleaner and healthier environment, but despite this move, residents and traders are raising concerns over significant sanitation challenges facing Kalagi, mainly the lack of public toilets and a lack of a designated waste disposal site in the area, which is densely populated and frequented by traders.

Sanitation Concerns in Kalagi Trading Center

During the community service visit, Kyampisi Sub-county Health Officer Josephat Kana revealed to visitors some alarming details about the sanitation situation in Kalagi. According to Kana, the only public toilet that was provided in this trading center is full and incapable of serving the growing population of people living and trading therein. As a result of that, locals and traders in this community have resorted to open defecation, including dumping human wastes in corridors of buildings- something very hazardous to public health.

Kana noted that the health risks caused by such poor sanitation practices are high, especially within a community that is facing an increasing population. “We have informed the Mukono District leadership about the challenge, but there has been no response yet,” Kana said, frustration in his voice for the lack of action to address the issue.

The Impact of Poor Sanitation on Public Health

The deplorable sanitation situation has sent jitters among residents, who warn that it is putting public health in grave danger. Unicie Nsubuga, a resident of Kalagi village, added that the increased open defecation and poor sanitation practices are increasing the vulnerability to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea, particularly among children. These diseases are common in areas where there is a lack of appropriate waste management systems and open defecation.

This bad condition of sanitation hurts the economy within the area. Sulaiman Lumu, Kalagi LC 1 chairperson, points out how the stinky smell brought about by waste has put away customers in the restaurant and food bars, adding to the fact that the rotten smell is a kind of hurt to them: “So many food outlets are not getting customers around here and losing because people always avoid going around this area due to the unbearable odors coming from the sites.”.

Most of our people, especially those in the food business, are incurring losses because of the stench from the filled toilet and garbage,” Lumu said. The issue has not only affected public health but has also had a detrimental impact on the livelihoods of local traders who rely on customers for their business survival.

Traders Demand Action from Local Authorities

The frustration among traders has been growing, with many accusing local authorities of not doing their job. They claim that despite paying taxes, they have not seen improvement in the cleanliness of the trading center or the provision of essential services like public toilets and waste collection.

Besides sanitation, the traders also criticize the town council for collecting revenue yet failing to provide some basic services. They feel that without infrastructure and sanitation facilities, they are losing business, as well as not realizing the full economic potential of the area.

District Leadership Responds to Sanitation Concerns

Chief Administrative Officer Elizabeth Namanda said, in response to these concerns, the district government is aware of the challenges in sanitation faced by Kalagi. However, she confessed that prior to that day, she had not received reports. Namanda assured the locals that the district government would work to improve the conditions at the trading center in terms of sanitation.

“We will ensure that the next budget includes provisions for modern toilets in the area,” Namanda said, in response to the community outcry for better sanitation facilities. The CAO reassured them that the district leadership was committed to making Kalagi a cleaner and healthier place for both residents and traders.

Namanda also called upon the residents to be responsible for cleanliness within their communities and not litter. She called on all people to engage in community service and try to keep their surroundings clean, as part of the greater effort to improve sanitation across the district.

Moving Forward: A Collaborative Effort for Cleanliness

The efforts put forward by the leadership of Mukono District to ensure cleanliness and waste management are one positive step toward addressing the challenges of sanitation faced by Kalagi Trading Center; there is a need for more work to be done to ensure that residents and traders have access to essential services like public toilets and waste disposal sites. The fact that the local government is now committed to budgeting for modern sanitation facilities in the future is an encouraging factor, but long-lasting improvement will require efforts by all stakeholders-residents, traders, and local authorities alike.

Addressing sanitation and waste management concerns amidst rapid urbanization and a growing population will be vital to ensuring the health and well-being of the community in Mukono District. Through sustained collaboration and active participation by the public, the district can strive toward a cleaner, healthier environment for all.