JEEMA Calls for Suspension of Monthly Cleaning Exercise Over Cholera Fears

Opposition party Justice Forum (JEEMA) has called on the government to immediately suspend the mandatory monthly cleaning exercise, warning that uncollected garbage left in urban areas could trigger a cholera outbreak as the rainy season intensifies.

The party said heaps of waste generated during last month’s nationwide cleaning exercise remain uncollected in many towns and cities, posing a growing public health risk. It warned that continued rainfall could spread contamination through surface runoff, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly cholera.

JEEMA spokesperson Dr. Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko urged the government to halt the exercise until adequate waste collection and disposal systems are put in place.

“We are deeply concerned about the public health risk posed by the massive heaps of uncollected garbage still lining streets across urban centres following last month’s mandatory monthly cleaning exercise. With the rainy season now underway, Uganda faces a serious risk of a cholera outbreak,” Dr. Nsereko said.

He argued that the nationwide exercise should not continue without sufficient logistical support to ensure waste is collected and disposed of promptly.

“We call upon the government to immediately suspend the mandatory monthly cleaning exercise until adequate systems, logistics and disposal capacity are put in place to manage the waste generated,” he said.

JEEMA also called on the government to conduct wider consultations before implementing future sanitation initiatives, saying public health interventions require proper coordination among relevant institutions.

Dr. Nsereko said the Ministry of Health, particularly the department responsible for primary health care, local governments and technical teams, should be involved in reviewing the directive to ensure it does not create unintended public health risks.

He also appealed for greater public awareness before such exercises are rolled out, arguing that rushed implementation disrupts livelihoods and essential services while weakening public confidence.

“Public health cannot be gambled with. A cholera outbreak at this time would be catastrophic and would erase years of progress in sanitation and disease prevention,” Dr. Nsereko said.

The party urged the government to review the current approach and adopt a more coordinated waste management strategy to protect public health.

The mandatory monthly cleaning exercise was introduced as part of the government’s efforts to improve sanitation and environmental hygiene across the country.

However, concerns have been raised in some urban centres over delays in collecting and transporting garbage after community clean-up activities.