By Kaboha
Fort Portal City Central Division has launched a sensitization campaign to promote effective garbage management and restore the city’s glory as the cleanest in Uganda.
The drive, led by Division Town Clerk Didas Muhanguzi, brings together LC1 chairpersons, landlords, Village Health Teams (VHTs), councilors, and enforcement officers. So far, two stakeholder meetings have been held at Divine International University and St. Paul Secondary School in Rwengoma Ward, attended by Mayor Richard Muhumuza and other top division leaders.
During the meetings, officials reviewed laws and regulations on waste management, compliance, and enforcement. They agreed on immediate implementation of these measures to ensure a cleaner, healthier city.
Town Clerk Muhanguzi stressed that waste management is a shared duty.
Mayor Muhumuza revealed that the campaign builds on earlier efforts, which included closing illegal garbage collection points, mapping disposal sites, and strengthening law enforcement. He noted that the new phase focuses on public awareness and strict compliance.
Under the enforcement plan, landlords whose premises lack dustbins will face closure, while residents who hand their waste to unauthorized collectors such as drunkards or street dwellers will be arrested and prosecuted.
The measures will be enforced under the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Act 2019, which provides for penalties against illegal waste disposal on streets, corridors, and toilets, as well as for failure to report offenders.
City authorities believe the campaign will improve sanitation, protect public health, and enhance Fort Portal’s image as Uganda’s tourism city