“When communities are given the opportunity to lead, they become the architects of their own change.” This truth came to life in the heart of Kisenyi where Uganda’s first-ever National Cleaning Day was officially launched. Attended by key government leaders including Vice president H.E Jesica Alupo,Prime minister Rt.Hon.Robinah Nabbanja,Minister for Health Hon.Dr. Chris Baryomunsi,Minister for Kampala central Minsa Kabanda and Ministry of Health PS Dr.Diana Atwine.
From the early hours of the morning, residents, community leaders, government officials, civil society organizations and volunteers came together with one shared goal-to create a cleaner, healthier environment. Streets were swept, drainage channels were cleared, waste was collected, and there was a renewed sense of collective responsibility. The atmosphere reflected a community that was ready to act.
For African Youth Action Network (AYAN), the day carried an even deeper meaning.
Long before the National Cleaning Day was announced, the people of Kisenyi iii had already identified poor sanitation as one of the most pressing challenges affecting their community. This was not a conclusion reached by outsiders—it came directly from the residents themselves through AYAN’s City Forum Project.
The City Forum creates a safe space where community members come together to discuss the issues that matter most to them. More importantly, it encourages them to move beyond identifying problems and begin designing their own solutions. The City Forum is built on a simple but powerful belief that “the people closest to a challenge are often the people best positioned to solve it”.
Rather than arriving with ready-made solutions, City Forum created a safe and inclusive space for both host and urban refugee communities where residents meet regularly to discuss the issues affecting their communities. Every voice matters, Women share their daily experience, Youth contribute fresh ideas and energy, Local leaders and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) provide guidance,Business owners explain how community challenges affect livelihoods.
Together, they prioritize issues, identify practical solutions, assign responsibilities, and support one another in implementing them.
In Kisenyi, the solution was clear: organize a community clean-up.
AYAN’s role was not to tell the community what it needed but rather, to stand beside them-to support their vision, provide coordination, mobilize resources, and empower local leaders to bring their idea to life
Then came an unexpected but welcome coincidence.
The community-led clean-up that had already been planned through the City Forum coincided with Uganda’s inaugural National Cleaning Day. What started as a local initiative became part of a historic national movement, bringing together government, communities and development partners around a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
During the official launch, AYAN was recognized for its contribution to community development and for supporting community-led action. While this recognition is deeply appreciated, the greatest achievement belongs to the people of Kisenyi. Their willingness to identify their own challenges, own the solutions, and work together demonstrates exactly what sustainable community development should look like.“AYAN did not come with answers. They came with listening ears. They believed in our ideas, and together we made them happen.” Commented a city forum mobilizer.
This is the essence of the City Forum approach. Sustainable development is not about imposing solutions-it is about creating platforms where communities can speak, decide and lead, while organizations like AYAN provide the support needed to turn ideas into action.
The success witnessed on National Cleaning Day reminds us that lasting change does not necessarily begin in boardrooms or conference halls. It begins in conversations between neighbours, in communities that believe change is possible, and in people who are willing to take the first step together.For many participants, the clean-up changed more than the appearance of their neighbourhood.It changed the way they viewed their role within it.Many members spoke about learning that maintaining a clean environment is not the responsibility of government alone.It is everyone’s responsibility.Others reflected on how teamwork makes even the biggest challenges manageable.Some discovered leadership abilities they never knew they possessed.Most importantly, many realized that lasting change begins with individual action.
As Uganda embraces National Cleaning Day as a monthly initiative, we hope more communities will see it as an opportunity not just to clean their surroundings, but to strengthen collaboration, build ownership and inspire collective action.
Because in the end, cleaner communities are built by empowered people.
Written By Aije Moshen and Anzo Robert Lagu