Lira City Mandates Monthly Clean-Up, Eyes Stricter Waste Rules

Lira City authorities are taking a firmer stance on waste management, announcing that participation in the government’s monthly clean-up drive will now be compulsory. Mayor Sam Atul stated that the city has already been implementing this initiative locally, reporting significant improvements in garbage collection, particularly around Lira Main Market.

Despite progress, the city’s designated dumping site is nearing its capacity due to the increasing volume of daily waste. To combat this, officials are strongly promoting the concept of “waste sorting at the source,” highlighting that approximately 70 percent of discarded materials have the potential for recycling. Residents and businesses are urged to separate recyclables from general waste to alleviate pressure on the disposal facilities and boost recycling efforts.

Furthermore, Lira City is enforcing a “polluter pays” policy, which requires individuals and businesses to contribute financially towards waste collection and disposal costs. Mayor Atul also appealed to the central government to speed up the approval of a crucial sanitation ordinance, which has been pending for over nine months. This proposed legislation aims to strengthen sanitation regulations by introducing penalties for illegal dumping and establishing accountability for households.

Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole criticized the public’s passive attitude towards cleanliness, noting that many expect security personnel and government officials to handle clean-up tasks. He warned that strict enforcement of the monthly clean-up, held on the last Saturday of every month, will be applied. Egole added that traders failing to clean their premises could face market operational restrictions. The success of these measures hinges on sustained public engagement, effective waste segregation, and robust enforcement of sanitation laws.

Source: Nile Post