WEYONJE SANITATION CHALLENGE LAUNCHED IN KAMPALA CENTRAL TO SPARK BEHAVIORAL CHANGE

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has kicked off the Weyonje Sanitation Challenge, in Kampala Central Division.

The new citywide competition designed to inspire behavioral change and strengthen community responsibility for a cleaner, healthier Kampala.

The challenge was launched today with a massive cleanup exercise in Usafi and Luzige Zone, where drainage channels were unclogged, streets swept, public toilets scrubbed, and communities mobilized to take charge of their sanitation.

Speaking at the launch, KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki called on residents to rethink their daily habits, starting with the simplest routines like shopping.

“Every time you go to the market, you come home with a new kavera,” she told locals. “Let’s break this habit. Get a lasting bag, reuse it, protect our drainage channels, and keep our streets clean. When we reduce polythene, we reduce flooding and cut the cost of cleaning the city.”

Buzeki also encouraged households and businesses to embrace waste sorting, explaining that once garbage is separated at the source, recycling becomes easier and can even generate income. 

“Keep your waste in a bin. Don’t dump it on the road because it damages our infrastructure. If you collect it properly, we shall pick it,” she said, adding that government has committed to providing more garbage trucks to support the effort.

The ED emphasized that proper sanitation is a shared responsibility: “When we all play our part, the money spent on cleaning the city can be invested in better services. We’re already improving our roads from 669km of tarmac to 770km and we want to do even more.”

The event also showcased one of the new public toilets at Usafi Taxi park part of the 36 modern, free, and cleaner facilities KCCA has constructed across the city in the last year.

Local leaders welcomed the Weyonje initiative, with Musa Muleme, LC1 Chairperson of Luzige Zone, praising the community's enthusiasm and urging residents to stay committed throughout the challenge.

According to Dr. Sarah Zalwango, KCCA Director of Public Health and Environment, the Weyonje Challenge has already been launched in four divisions, Kawempe, Nakawa, Makindye, and Kampala Central.

She said the competition will run until December 20, with the winning division rewarded for the highest levels of cleanliness, community involvement, and innovation.

Dr. Zalwango explained that assessments will include home inspections, road cleanliness, waste sorting practices, and proper management of sewage and drainage. 

“No garbage in drainage. No sewage in channels. Homes must be clean. This challenge is about taking responsibility,” Zalwango said.

Residents can participate by voting online through the U-Report platform and the KCCA website, ensuring that community voices guide the competition.

The Weyonje Sanitation Challenge stands as one of KCCA’s boldest pushes yet toward shifting mindsets, empowering communities, and building a cleaner, greener, more resilient Kampala.