Ugandan authorities have intensified a nationwide sanitation campaign with the removal of a massive garbage heap that has dominated Kabundaire Market in Fort Portal City for more than a decade, as the government expands efforts to improve public health and environmental cleanliness.
The operation, launched shortly after Uganda’s first mandatory National Cleaning Day, targets what the Minister of Local Government of Uganda Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi described as a man-made “Baby Mountain Rwenzori,” a towering accumulation of waste that had become a longstanding feature of one of the city’s busiest markets.
Barugahara said the clean-up exercise began on Saturday and is expected to clear the site within 72 hours, marking what officials hope will be the beginning of a broader campaign to eliminate major garbage dumps across Uganda.
“Together, we are restoring cleanliness, protecting public health, and giving our communities the environment they deserve,” Barugahara said in a statement shared on social media.
Kabundaire Market serves as one of Fort Portal City’s principal trading centres, attracting thousands of vendors and shoppers each week.
For years, traders and residents have complained about the growing garbage pile, saying it created unpleasant odours, attracted flies and rodents, blocked drainage channels and posed serious health risks.
Local leaders have repeatedly cited inadequate waste collection, rapid urban growth and limited disposal infrastructure as factors contributing to the accumulation of refuse.
The latest operation aims not only to remove the waste but also to restore sanitary conditions in the market and improve the surrounding environment.
The clean-up has brought together several government institutions and local authorities.
According to Barugahara, the operation involves cooperation between Fort Portal City Town Clerk’s Office, Central Division leadership, the Resident City Commissioner’s (RCC) office, the District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Fort Portal City councillors, Fort Portal City Mayor Joram Bintamanya and market vendors and community members.
Heavy machinery, including tractors and loaders provided by Kabarole District and other government agencies, has been deployed to accelerate waste removal.
Officials say coordinated action across institutions is essential to tackling long-standing sanitation problems that exceed the capacity of individual local governments.
Fort Portal operation comes just days after Uganda officially launched National Cleaning Day, a monthly initiative requiring citizens to participate in community clean-up exercises on the last Saturday of every month.
This programme was introduced by the government as part of a national strategy to reduce diseases associated with poor sanitation and improve environmental management.
During the first National Cleaning Day, movement was temporarily restricted nationwide between7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., allowing communities to clean roads, drainage systems, markets, schools, health facilities and other public spaces.
Government officials say the initiative is intended to encourage shared responsibility for environmental cleanliness while complementing local government waste management programmes.
Public health experts say unmanaged solid waste presents significant health and environmental risks.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has previously linked poor sanitation to a high proportion of preventable diseases, including diarrhoeal illnesses and typhoid.
Environmental specialists argue that regular waste collection and proper disposal are essential for reducing these risks, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres.
Like many expanding towns across East Africa, Fort Portal has experienced rapid urbanisation in recent years.
Population growth has increased the volume of waste generated daily, placing additional pressure on municipal collection systems.
Urban planners say sustained improvements will require long-term investment in waste infrastructure alongside community participation.
Barugahara thanked market vendors for cooperating with the exercise, noting that local participation had contributed significantly to the operation’s progress.
Authorities believe community involvement is critical because markets generate substantial quantities of organic and plastic waste each day.
Traders have also expressed hope that cleaner surroundings will improve business conditions by making the market more attractive to customers.
The minister said the Fort Portal operation forms part of a broader campaign aimed at improving sanitation across Uganda.
He indicated that similar clean-up exercises will be extended to other local governments where large unmanaged waste sites continue to pose environmental and public health concerns.
The government’s long-term objective is to strengthen local waste management while encouraging communities to take greater responsibility for maintaining clean public spaces.
Environmental experts note that improved sanitation delivers benefits beyond public health.
However, specialists caution that one-off clean-up campaigns must be supported by consistent waste collection, recycling initiatives and stronger enforcement against illegal dumping to achieve lasting results.
Officials expect the removal of the Kabundaire Market garbage heap to be completed within the next 72 hours, after which attention will shift to preventing future waste accumulation.
Authorities say maintaining the gains will require regular garbage collection, improved disposal systems and continued cooperation between local governments, traders and residents.
As Uganda expands its national sanitation campaign, the Fort Portal operation is being presented as an example of how coordinated action between government agencies and local communities can address long-standing environmental challenges while improving public health and urban living conditions.
