Broom in hand, PM Nabbanja leads Uganda into round two of national cleaning day
Ugandans across the country are set to roll up their sleeves this weekend as National Cleaning Day returns for a second round on Saturday, 29 August 2026, with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urging citizens to come out with brooms, hoes and spades, and the Uganda Police Force issuing clear, practical guidance to make sure the exercise runs smoothly for everyone, including those who must be on the road during the clean up window.
Speaking to journalists and the public on Thursday, Nabbanja called on Ugandans to leave their homes and join the three hour nationwide clean up between 7:00am and 10:00am, aimed at clearing garbage and restoring cleanliness in communities. True to the spirit of shared responsibility she has championed since the programme's July launch, the Prime Minister said she would not simply be sending Ugandans out to clean, she would be on the ground herself.
In a press release issued today, the Force reaffirmed its call for citizens to take part in the exercise, describing it as a chance for communities to come together and keep their neighbourhoods clean, safe and healthy. The restricted period runs from 7:00am to 10:00am, and police have gone out of their way to spell out exactly who can still move during those hours, a step that removes uncertainty and shows planning that puts real life needs front and centre.
The exemption list is broad and thoughtful. It covers people seeking medical care and patients travelling for scheduled treatment, emergency service vehicles, medical staff and security personnel on duty, as well as cross border traffic on major transport corridors. Travellers heading to or from airports and other international terminals are also free to move, provided they carry valid travel documents, a detail that will reassure anyone with an early flight that weekend.
The list extends further to the people who help tell Uganda's story and connect it to the world: journalists on duty, diplomats and diplomatic staff in identified vehicles, staff of United Nations agencies and international organisations, and tourists with appropriate travel or accommodation documentation. Their inclusion signals that National Cleaning Day is designed to work alongside the country's everyday life and its role as a regional hub, not against it.
Police also used the statement to encourage calm and cooperation, asking members of the public to work with the security personnel deployed for the exercise and to avoid confrontations or arguments. Anyone unsure about the guidelines has a clear path forward too: seek out the nearest police officer or supervisor on duty for clarification.
It is a simple message with a wide reach. For three hours on Saturday morning, Uganda's communities have a shared purpose, backed by the country's own Prime Minister picking up a broom alongside them, and thanks to today's clarification, a shared understanding of how to make it work for everyone, from the family sweeping their compound to the patient headed to hospital and the traveller catching a flight.
