By Brian Atuhura

The Member of Parliament for Buruli County,Hon.Aled Ronald Akugizibwe,has urged Kyatiri Town Council leaders in Masindi District to formulate and enforce strict sanitation bye-laws to compel residents to participate in community cleaning activities and promote a clean environment.

Akugizibwe made the call during the fourth National Cleaning Exercise held in Kyatiri Town Council,where he expressed concern over the low turnout of residents,noting that only a few community members had participated in the exercise.

He said limited community participation undermines efforts to improve public health and environmental protection,emphasising that sanitation activities are intended to benefit residents through cleaner and healthier surroundings.

The legislator urged residents to take collective responsibility for maintaining cleanliness rather than leaving the task to a few leaders and volunteers.He proposed that the Town Council introduce firm bye-laws to ensure compliance and encourage all residents to participate in keeping their neighbourhoods clean.

Akugizibwe also called on local leaders to prioritise tree planting along town streets to beautify the urban area and preserve it's green cover.

Speaking during the same exercise,the Assistant District Health Officer in Charge of Environmental Health,Patrick Baguma,also called for stronger enforcement measures to ensure residents actively participate in sanitation activities.

Baguma noted that maintaining a clean environment is essential for public health,explaining that poor sanitation and unhygienic surroundings can contribute to the spread of communicable diseases.He urged residents to make cleanliness a daily responsibility rather than limiting it to designated cleaning days.

The Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer,Musa Kyamiza,commended students who joined local leaders and other residents in the exercise,saying their participation helps nurture responsible citizens and instill positive habits among young people.

He encouraged residents to avoid indiscriminate littering and ensure that garbage is disposed of at designated collection points,emphasising that effective waste management requires cooperation from the entire community.

The Deputy Commander of the Artillery Division in Masindi,Brigadier General Rogers Kitwala,called on local leaders to promote discipline and ensure residents comply with sanitation guidelines.

Kitwala observed that a healthy environment benefits everyone by enabling communities to remain healthy and productive.He urged leaders and residents to demonstrate collective commitment towards making sanitation a shared responsibility.

Meanwhile,the District Male Councillor representing Kyatiri Town Council,John Kisarach ,raised concerns over the poor state of drainage infrastructure in Kyatiri West Ward.

Kisarach said the Ministry of Works had for a long time neglected the maintenance of a drainage channel in the area,a situation he said was contributing to the deterioration of some roads due to the effects of natural forces.

He also expressed concern that sugarcane trucks contribute to the accumulation of garbage,complicating waste collection and management.He called for intervention to address the drainage and waste-management challenges as part of broader efforts to improve sanitation and the general condition of the town.

The fourth National Cleaning Exercise in Kyatiri Town Council highlighted the need for stronger community participation,enforcement of sanitation standards and improved waste-management practices,with leaders urging residents to work together with the Town Council to maintain clean public spaces and build a healthier community.