Ahead of the second edition of the nationwide sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, the Uganda Police Force has officially issued clear exemption guidelines to prevent unnecessary travel disruptions and friction between law enforcement and the public.
Addressing journalists at the police headquarters on Monday, Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kituuma Rusoke stated that the clarification was necessitated by public complaints registered during the inaugural exercise last month, when essential travelers were stopped and directed to clean despite having valid travel needs.
1. The Core Travel Restrictions (7:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
Under the national policy, the public sanitation drive runs from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on the last Saturday of every month.
Police reiterated that general civilian vehicular and foot movement will remain restricted during this three-hour window, with mandatory participation required for all non-exempt persons in their respective communities.
2. Who is Exempted from the August 29 Exercise?
To balance environmental sanitation goals with essential public logistics, police have formally recognized specific categories of individuals and transit services permitted to operate:
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Medical Patients & Care-Seekers: Individuals experiencing emergencies or seeking urgent clinical attention. Those going for scheduled hospital appointments are advised to carry relevant medical appointment cards or letters.
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Health & Emergency Personnel: Active medical practitioners, doctors, nurses, ambulances, and emergency response crews.
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Airport Travelers & Flight Crews: Passengers catching scheduled flights and essential airport staff commuting to and from Entebbe International Airport (valid flight tickets or boarding passes required).
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Accredited Journalists: Media practitioners actively covering the exercise or on urgent news assignments (work identification required).
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Foreign Tourists: International tourists on guided safari itineraries or transit schedules.
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Scheduled Cross-Border Passenger Transit: Long-distance regional buses moving to or from neighboring destinations (such as Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania).
Exemption Compliance Checklist (7:00 AM - 10:00 AM):
├── Valid National ID or Work Accreditation
├── Flight Ticket / Itinerary (For airport travelers)
├── Hospital Appointment Documentation (For scheduled treatments)
└── Designated Route Chart (For cross-border passenger buses)
3. Strict Warning to Cross-Border Bus Operators
While cross-border passenger transit is exempt from the static shutdown, ACP Rusoke issued a firm warning to commercial transit operators against route deviation.
“If a bus is coming from Kenya and going to Kigali, it can’t be caught up in this exercise. But if we find you roaming in one of the villages, away from the route chart, we will stop you.”
— ACP Kituuma Rusoke, Police Spokesperson
Police have urged all exempted travelers and essential workers to carry valid identification badges and supporting documents to guarantee seamless clearance at security checkpoints across urban centers and highways.
