“The low turnout was due to the Buganda Masaza football tournament finals between Kyaggwe and Gomba counties,” Bishop Lwandasa said.
Outcry as Evangelist Gets 14 Years for Converting Muslim Woman to Christianity
The excitement surrounding the Kyaggwe vs Gomba Masaza Cup final have overshadowed the monthly national community cleanup exercise in Mukono District on Saturday, with only a handful of residents turning up for the sanitation drive.
Across much of Mukono and Buikwe districts that make up Kyaggwe County, streets that would ordinarily be expected to have residents armed with brooms, rakes and garbage bags instead witnessed sparse groups of young people attempting to mobilise communities, some blowing vuvuzelas to attract more participants.
The low turnout contrasted with previous nationwide cleanup exercises that had attracted stronger participation, particularly in Mukono Municipality.
In Ggunga village, the exercise was led by youths under the guidance of Bishop Samuel Lwandasa, the pastor of Mt. Lebanon Church, who attributed the poor response to the competing attraction of the Buganda Masaza football tournament finals scheduled at Muteesa II Stadium at Wankulukuku.
“The low turnout was due to the Buganda Masaza football tournament finals between Kyaggwe and Gomba counties,” Bishop Lwandasa said.
He thanked the Government for maintaining peace, which he said had enabled communities to participate in national programmes and sporting activities.
Lwandasa said organisers had deliberately placed young people at the forefront of the exercise because of their energy and ability to mobilise others.
“This time we put the youth in front because they have the energy, and in this era God has set them apart,” he said, commending those who responded to the Government’s call despite the competing football activities.
Some of the youths who participated said maintaining cleanliness should be everyone’s responsibility, regardless of age or social status.
They said a clean environment promotes a healthy lifestyle, reduces the risk of disease outbreaks and demonstrates patriotism and care for the community.
At Kame Valley Market, popularly known as Kikko market, a group of Uganda Christian University (UCU) students also joined the cleanup exercise.
The students said they had chosen to participate as a civic responsibility and to contribute to efforts to keep Mukono town clean, despite the limited response from other residents.
Meanwhile, much of Mukono town was caught up in the Masaza Cup celebrations, with supporters moving around while blowing horns and vuvuzelas. Some rode motorcycles through the streets, while a few reckless riders lost control and fell.
The Buganda Masaza Cup final against Kyaggwe and Gomba at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku had been scheduled with the national cleanup programme in mind, with organisers adjusting the kick-off time to accommodate the Government exercise.
However, the football excitement appeared to have drawn more residents’ attention, particularly in Kyaggwe County, where supporters were eager to follow their team’s quest for the championship.
The few participants and community leaders who turned up expressed hope that future monthly cleanup exercises would attract wider participation, urging residents not to leave sanitation responsibilities to a handful of volunteers.
They said keeping communities clean requires collective effort and should remain a priority even when major sporting and social events compete for public attention.
