Cleaning Busega with Love!
The Uganda Human Settlements Network launches a
community clean up and sensitization drive in slum communities
Not
even the early morning rain could halt the much anticipated launch of the
community clean up and sensitization drive on the 28th of July 2012
in Busega Central C Zone. What started as an idea at the Uganda Human
Settlements Network Secretariat in Bukoto would later culminate into one of the
memorable days in a slum community deep in the outskirts of Kampala city. Others
will always remember it as a day their woes of clogged smelly and dirty
drainage channels were opened and cleaned, to others it is a day that they met
their leaders headed by the Mayor of Rubaga Division her worship Joyce
Ssebugwawo. Still to others it was a day crowned with reflections of having a
right to a clean and healthy environment, whilst emphasizing individual roles
and responsibilities in preserving and protecting their environment and the
general feeling that their conditions as slum dwellers could be improved.
Some of the cleaning equipment that was delivered by
SSA-UHSNET
As
early as 6.00 am SSA-UHSNET dispatched its team that included the Program
Officer, Program Assistant and the Mzungu
Intern who would later come to terms with curious eyes of the little ones in
Busega. “Mzungu, mzungu bye bye…”
they shouted in chorus. The SSA-UHSNET team delivered equipment worth 2.5
million that included wheel barrows, hoes, spades, gloves, rakes, pick axes,
gum boots, brooms, reflector jackets and a portable public address system that
had been earlier delivered to alert the community about the impending “bulungi bwansi.” The rest of the
Secretariat crew headed by the Executive director Ms. Dorothy Baziwe
accompanied by the chairperson of the Water and Sanitation Working group Mr.
Ssebunya Kiiza joined the activity in the wee hours of the morning. The
artistically designed day’s banner said it all: The day’s theme ran thus: Community Clean up and sensitization
exercise; “Towards improved conditions of Slum dwellers: You have a right to a
clean and healthy environment.” Indeed it was a beautiful piece of art with
captions of people doing the real work.
The days theme displayed on the banner
The
long wait that had started with the preparatory activities spearheaded by the
steering committee headed by the LC II chairperson Mr. Kimera Mohamed soon came
to an end as each resident scrambled to get hold of an equipment to use. Heaps
of hoes, spades, rakes, gumboots, among other materials were reduced to nothing
and residents descended upon the garbage and the filth in the drainage
channels. News of the activity spread like wild fire, in a few moments boda-boda riders abandoned their rides,
equally the shopkeepers temporarily went on a selling strike, to sum it all,
both the young and old, men and women, leader and the led, small and big inflicted
pain on any cleaning equipment they could lay their hands on.
Residents take part in the exercise
What
seemed to be pools of dirty water started snaking its way through a sparkling
clean drainage channel. Heaps of garbage and rubbish were brought next to the
road awaiting a garbage truck. Beads of sweat started forming on participants’
foreheads a proof that some great work had been done. The day would not go
without something to write home about as the Parish councilor contestants
worked hard and harder to outclass their competitors vying for the same seat
that fell vacant with the sudden demise of the former parish councilor. What an
opportune moment to spot the best contestant!
Parish Councilor contestants on duty!
By 11.30
am the Zone was sparkling fresh and clean, the beats of the drum were changed
with the public announcer urging people to gather for a sensitization meeting.
One by one, the participants who neither had any trace of tiredness nor remorse
for the great service they had rendered to the community, gathered and
attentively listened to one speaker after another starting from the hosting
Local Council One Chairperson Mr. Ssalongo Kyambadde and each of the contestants
was given a chance to greet the people and address the issues related to the
days proceedings. A team from the famous Kampala City Yange; a
series of monthly on-going social themes through which each Kampala City
stakeholder can have a chance to participate in being a part of the solution
based on their passion and skill set in resonance with a specific community
need in and around Kampala was at hand to witness the success that the Uganda
Human Settlements Network had registered.
The Uganda Human Settlements Network
secretariat Team
News
that her worship the Mayor of the Division was on her way changed the rhythm of
the meeting, the dull and long faces beamed up with wide cheers and a standing
ovation that was accompanied with the National Anthem and as usual the
Landlord’s (Buganda) anthem. I could clearly see that her presence meant a lot
to her electorates judging from the warm reception she got. Each speaker echoed
words of wisdom as regards water and sanitation in the area, the quest for
public toilets, garbage trucks and a health centre took center stage among
other community needs.
Her worship the Mayor of Rubaga addresses the people
Speaker
after speaker thanked “Shelter” for having made the day possible. The mayor
expressed her gratefulness to SSA and pledged to work together with all those
who are ready and willing to. Her stern warning to those who dispose their
waste matter improperly and those who intentionally dump wastes in the drainage
channels could not be under looked. She declared a crackdown on those who build
houses that do not have toilet/latrine facilities but offered a grace period of
three months. The day was crowned with a question and answer session with
residents directly posing questions to their leaders. The camera shutters later
had a field day as residents curved around their mayor and the SSA-UHSNET team
for a group photo.
The mayor
(center) and her team from Rubaga Division, KCCA Kampala City Yange team,
SSA-UHSNET team, Local Leaders of Busega and the community pose for a group
photo
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