Arua City Embraces National Cleaning Day with Enthusiastic Participation

Arua City was abuzz with activity on Saturday, not with the usual traffic, but with citizens actively engaged in the National Cleaning Day.

By early morning, the city’s main taxi and bus parks, typically teeming with travelers, were sites of concentrated community service. Residents, equipped with brooms, spades, and rakes, dedicated their time to cleaning streets, clearing drainage systems, and removing accumulated garbage.

The collective effort saw men, women, and youth working hand-in-hand, underscoring a shared commitment to a cleaner urban environment. Iddi Ali, Assistant Manager at Friendship Bus Services, lauded the exercise as a crucial initiative, expressing a desire for its continuation to combat indiscriminate waste disposal and related diseases.

While many public transport services paused to allow for participation, boda boda operators largely continued their services. Police patrols were visible, monitoring the widespread engagement along Rhino Camp Road as more residents joined the clean-up throughout the morning.

However, the exercise was not without its critiques. Concerns were raised by participants regarding the absence of essential protective gear, such as gloves, for those handling waste. Denis Oriyo specifically appealed to the government for such provisions to ensure volunteer safety.

Additionally, the lack of readily available garbage collection trucks to manage the large volumes of waste generated was a point of frustration. Former Councillor Umar Ahmed highlighted that authorities should have had collection vehicles on standby to immediately remove the gathered refuse, which remained piled at collection points.

Despite these logistical hurdles, the overarching sentiment among participants was one of strengthened community responsibility and a renewed appreciation for the importance of a clean, healthy, and sustainable city.

This report is based on information from Nile Post.