Hoima City — Emyooga beneficiaries in Hoima City have joined the National Cleaning Day exercise, with beneficiaries saying maintaining a clean environment is essential to protecting their health and sustaining the businesses supported through the programme.
The beneficiaries participated in the third National Cleaning Day on Saturday, September 26, alongside Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, government officials, local leaders and residents.
Florence Asaba, chairperson of the Hoima West Constituency Women Entrepreneurs Emyooga SACCO, said financial support alone cannot translate into improved livelihoods if beneficiaries remain exposed to unhealthy surroundings.
“The government has injected money into us. We feel that if we are working in a dirty environment, even after getting the money, we may end up going back to the hospital,” Asaba said.
She said good health is necessary for beneficiaries to work, grow their businesses and improve household incomes.
“If the government puts in money but people are not healthy, we may not be able to prosper. We may not be able to move away from the poverty line and become rich,” she said.
Asaba, who also chairs the Hoima Waste Council, said cleanliness has a direct bearing on the businesses of Emyooga beneficiaries, particularly those operating in markets and other public spaces.
“According to the business I do, I deal in produce. I feel that when we are working in a clean environment, it attracts customers,” she said.
She linked the need for a clean city to Hoima’s growing economic activity and preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
“When everybody, including tourists, comes, we also get a chance to get more customers,” Asaba said.
She also appealed for additional funding for Emyooga groups, saying beneficiaries were ready to expand their enterprises.
“We also request the government to inject more money because we believe that people are ready and eagerly waiting to receive more money. As people receive money, they grow in their development,” she said.
Tadeo Atuhura, Head of Communications at the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), said the cleaning exercise was consistent with the institution’s objective of supporting wealth creation.
“As an institution, we are very focused on creating wealth. But you cannot create wealth when you are unhealthy,” Atuhura said.
He said Emyooga beneficiaries operate in different businesses, including restaurants, welding, fishing and other enterprises, making a clean working environment important to their operations.
“Wherever they work, once they maintain a clean environment, more customers will come and access the services of their enterprises,” he said.
Prime Minister Nabbanja, who led the cleaning exercise in Hoima, urged Ugandans to make cleanliness part of their routine rather than limiting it to the monthly exercise.
She said poor waste management contributes to preventable health and environmental problems and called for waste sorting at the point of disposal.
The National Cleaning Day is held on the last Saturday of every month, with residents expected to clean public spaces including roads, markets and drainage channels.
The Hoima exercise brought together several government officials, including State Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Jonard Asiimwe, Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, Members of Parliament and local leaders.
The government has also been stepping up waste-management measures in Hoima as the city prepares for increased economic activity and AFCON 2027. City authorities recently deployed garbage scouts to monitor illegal dumping.
