The Minister for Kampala Beti Olive Namisango Kamya has cautioned Lungujja-Kosovo residents against dumping rubbish in trenches.

This was during the Weyonje programme where the minister joined Nabugabo Updeal garbage collectors in the cleaning of Lungujja-Kosovo area where they dug the trenches, collected rubbish which was later taken by Nabugabo Updeal trucks.

In the minister's speech on Friday, she has told people to get rubbish cans where to put rubbish in order to avoid dumping everywhere.

"Everyone should either have a sack or a trash can where to put rubbish because it is absence of these trash cans that make people dump rubbish in trenches," said Kamya

She added that when trenches are clean there is good flow of water which enables proper drainage.

Kamya encouraged residents to maintain cleanliness wherever they are not only at their homes.

"It is everyone's responsibility to ensure that he or she is in a clean environment and it doesn't matter whether it's your home or not. Therefore we should avoid negligence and maintain good sanitation," she added.

The minister, who once represented Rubaga North in parliament, asked residents of Lungujja to co-operate with Nabugabo Updeal through paying a monthly rubbish fee of 5000 Shillings so as to make their work easy and keep the Kosovo suburb clean.

"It is an obligation for every individual to pay this money in time so that it doesn't inconvenience the work of Nabugabo Updeal garbage collectors and to play an active role in keeping the town clean," she said.

This Weyonje programme gave chance to residents to raise their concerns about issues to do with garbage collection and explained to Minister Kamya that the garbage collectors often ask for money before taking the rubbish yet they as well make the monthly payment which is meant for the same.

"Those people come for money every month and again ask for 3000 Shillings to take the rubbish which is so unfair,” said Namubiru Husinah, a resident of Lungujja-Kosovo.

Some residents complained that even the monthly fee is on the higher side saying that it ought to be reduced.

"Paying 5000 Shillings every month is quite expensive and I am of the view that it should be reduced to at least 2000 Shillings," sid Mutyaba Reagan, a shop attendant.

Kayima Ronald, an employee of Nabugabo Updeal, explained to the residents that they are supposed to make payment of only 5000 Shillings per month, which money is collected by authorized Nabugabo Updeal employees who issues a receipt to anyone who makes payment. Therefore they should not pay anyone during garbage collection but rather show their receipts.

The minister promised to address the issue.

The locals also requested the minister that the trenches should be properly built since whenever it rains the water from the trench covers the road which makes movement difficult.

"During the rainy season water from the trench crosses the road which is risky and makes movement difficult," Kazibwe Andrew told the minister.

According to Kasule Ssemugenze, the area Local Council chairperson, this programme is of great help and will ensure that the residents stop dumping rubbish in trenches which is the case every day.

"The trenches are full of rubbish yet KCCA workers clean them every Saturday but the residents continue dumping rubbish. I guess with this encouragement from the minister, the residents will stop these acts," he said.