Bushenyi, Uganda – Concerns over garbage collection and sanitation in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality have intensified, with residents and councillors demanding greater accountability in waste management.
The concerns emerged during a meeting at Central Division offices this week, held to handover the PDM SACCO leadership.
Central Division Health Inspector Innocent Barigye had urged parents, Village Health Teams (VHTs) and stakeholders to support the ongoing Measles-Rubella booster campaign targeting children aged 9 to 59 months, ending Monday 5th October 2026.
However, he was tasked to explain why garbage continues to pile up in communities even after National Cleaning Day activities.
In response, Barigye said no specific budget was attached to the cleaning exercise, leaving the department without fuel and pickup vehicles. He added that operational guidelines were still awaited and officials were serving with a patriotic heart.
*Contractor operating with one truck*
Focus then turned to the private contractor responsible for garbage collection.
Residents alleged that garbage is sometimes collected only once a month, fees are not clearly explained, and collection is done late at night. One incident reportedly involved a contractor’s worker who was nearly assaulted in Ishaka while collecting fees.
Barigye explained that procurement and contracting falls under the municipality, not the health department.
A worker linked to the company said management had been asked several times to acquire another truck but had not done so. The contractor currently operates with one truck serving all three divisions, a situation residents say makes regular collection impossible.
This has raised questions about whether the contractor has capacity to meet contract terms, with some residents claiming the previous contractor performed better – claims that require verification from municipal records.
*Councillors demand accountability*
Some councillors raised concerns about procurement and administrative handling within the municipality, alleging that attempts to seek explanations from a procurement official were blocked. These claims could not be independently verified.
Residents also cited sanitation concerns at the municipal garbage disposal site and its impact on public health.
They are now calling on the new municipal leadership including the Speaker, council and Town Clerk Andrew Mugabe to review the current contract, enforce collection schedules, clarify fees, provide adequate supervision and ensure transparency in procurement.
The concerns come ahead of an expected visit by the Minister of Local Government to Bushenyi later this month or in early November, where residents want the garbage crisis to feature prominently.
For many residents, the question is no longer who collects the garbage, but whether the current system provides value for money and protects public health.
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