Residents and garbage collectors in Gombe Division, Nansana Municipality, have demanded the government establish a designated waste disposal site, arguing that escalating waste volumes have rendered community clean-up efforts ineffective. The appeal emerged during a recent clean-up exercise, where residents highlighted persistent garbage accumulation along roadsides despite prior efforts.
Garbage collectors reported difficulties in waste removal due to the lack of a disposal site, exacerbated by a presidential directive banning waste dumping at the Buyala facility. The restriction, implemented to address environmental concerns, has left workers without an alternative location to dispose of collected waste, prompting calls for urgent government intervention to resolve the crisis.
Nansana Municipality Assistant Town Clerk Hajat Hadijah Ssengendo, alongside members of the Municipal Development Forum (MDF), urged residents to pay for garbage collection services, warning that neglecting waste management could lead to health risks. They emphasized that prolonged accumulation of refuse during designated clean-up days threatens public health, stressing the need for residents to cooperate with collectors to maintain sanitation.
Nansana Deputy Resident District Commissioner Charles Lwanga and Gombe Division Chairperson Haawa Mabazi joined calls for collective responsibility, stating that sustained cleanliness requires collaboration between residents, local authorities, and waste operators. They highlighted the importance of community participation in preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring environmental safety, as the garbage challenge continues to strain municipal resources.