Exiled lawyer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has criticised the government’s newly introduced National Cleaning Day, terming it an unlawful directive that shifts responsibility from authorities to ordinary citizens.
The government recently launched a mandatory monthly clean-up exercise, to be held every last Saturday of the month from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
The programme is intended to improve sanitation and public health, with enforcement measures including restricted movement during the exercise.
But Kakwenza dismissed the initiative, arguing that it compels taxpayers to perform duties already funded through public revenue.
“Ugandans lining up to obey this illegal executive order to sweep your own streets, you are voluntarily auditioning for the role of unpaid municipal workers.”
He said citizens were effectively doing the work of local governments, despite already paying taxes for such services.
“You already hand over taxes so the local councils can keep your environment clean. Yet here you are, out in the dust, performing the very service you financed while the officials sit comfortably indoors.”
The exiled critic used a vivid analogy to question the logic behind the directive.
“It is the same madness as buying a fierce dog to guard against wild animals, then sleeping outside yourself while the dog lounges on the sofa.”
Kakwenza further called on authorities to either deliver services as mandated or stop collecting related taxes, suggesting that failure to do so undermines public trust.
“If the councils cannot deliver the cleanliness they are paid to provide, let them stop collecting the money at once and restore genuine Bulungi Bwansi community work done by free choice, not under bureaucratic command.”
He also criticised what he described as coercion in implementing the programme.
“You cannot charge people transport fares, promise to drive them to their destination, and then demand they purchase the vehicle themselves.”