Kampala, Uganda | URN | The lack of public toilets in Ssentamu Zone and Nakawa Small Gate in Nakawa Parish, Nakawa Division, is forcing some residents and workers to dispose of human waste in polythene bags and dump it in drainage channels, residents have said.
The concerns were raised during the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Weyonje cleaning exercise on Saturday, with residents appealing to KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki to provide public toilets in the area.
Ssentamu Zone is largely occupied by garages and artisans involved in making metallic beds, suitcases and other products. Residents said mechanics, welders, boda boda riders and other workers have limited access to toilet facilities.Ivan Matovu, the area councillor, said the few available toilets are privately owned and their owners do not allow members of the public to use them.
Resident Brian Wandera also confirmed that the area has no public toilets, saying most of the available facilities belong to landlords who keep them locked for private use.
Dr Judith Nalukwago, a city authority councillor, urged landlords to provide proper sanitation facilities before constructing and renting out houses.
She also called on elected area leaders to enforce regulations requiring landlords to provide functional toilets on their premises before renting out the houses.
During the Weyonje exercise, KCCA also demolished makeshift structures and kiosks erected in gazetted areas as part of efforts to enforce trade order.
Welders operating along the roads were directed to remove metallic beds and other products from road reserves.
Matovu also appealed to KCCA to allow women operating night businesses at least two hours every night to conduct business, saying this would enable them to earn income and repay funds they acquired through the Parish Development Model.Buzeki urged residents to take the lead in maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation in their communities.She said KCCA is preparing for the next National Cleaning Day, scheduled for the last Saturday of this month, and has mobilised additional garbage trucks to ensure waste generated during the exercise is quickly evacuated.
Buzeki said KCCA will introduce a “bring-to-truck” strategy during the upcoming cleaning exercise, requiring residents to take their garbage directly to designated collection trucks stationed in villages.
“We have had enough time to mobilise the required garbage trucks to evacuate the generated garbage on that day. Do not waste along the road; bring it directly to the trucks,” Buzeki said.
The exercise was also attended by Nakawa Division Mayor Buken Ali and KCCA Deputy Executive Director Simon Kigenyi.
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