Oyam District gears up for National Cleaning Day, 11 activities lined up

27 August 2026, 7:36 am

By Eman Yonah Oruk

Preparations are in high gear in Oyam District ahead of the National Cleaning Day scheduled for Saturday, with 11 key activities set to be carried out across all sub-counties, homesteads and public places.

This was revealed during a meeting of the District General Cleaning Day Coordination Committee chaired by Assistant RDC Ayub Tenywa, representing the RDC’s office. The initiative aims to promote environmental sanitation, proper waste management, public health, environmental protection and civic responsibility through collective action by all stakeholders in the district.

The 11 activities to be implemented include street cleaning, market cleaning, cleaning of schools and health facilities, cleaning of public toilets, cleaning and protection of water sources, opening access roads, desilting drains, opening offshoot drainage channels, tree planting, and waste collection and disposal.

In his remarks, Assistant RDC Ayub Tenywa emphasised that National Cleaning Day is everyone’s responsibility and must be observed on the last Saturday of every month. He urged residents to participate fully and called on all sub-counties to enforce the directive without fear or favour.

Assistant DHO Caroline Agaro announced that from 8am to 10am on Saturday, no other business would be allowed apart from cleaning. She warned that police cells would be open to accommodate those who rejected the initiative, stressing that the exercise was vital to making Oyam and Uganda cleaner.

Senior Health Environment Officer Harriet Aber pointed out that business communities in Oyam Town Council, Kamdini and Loro often resisted participation despite existing by-laws. She urged police to arrest those who dumped polythene bags in freshly cleaned areas, noting that enforcement was key to sustaining cleanliness.

Deputy CAO Joel Ojedra reminded residents that responsibility begins at home, urging them to start cleaning from 7am before moving to trading centres between 8am and 10am. He emphasised the need to change attitudes and reduce polythene waste in trading centres.

Francis Odong, OC Operations, speaking on behalf of the DPC, declared that arrests would be made for non-compliance. He cautioned business owners against opening shops before 10am or sitting idle while others cleaned, warning that such behaviour would lead to detention at Oyam CPS.

Clan elder Mzee Nasuro Okori, the Aryong Tong of Okarowok Wibye Acel Clan, welcomed the initiative, saying it would empower clan and religious leaders to sensitise their communities. He further urged authorities to inspect homes for toilets, noting that even some local leaders lacked proper sanitation facilities.

The coordinated effort demonstrates Oyam District’s commitment to environmental protection, public health and civic responsibility, with leaders, health officials, police and community members working together to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.