Police have listed categories of people who will be allowed to move during the second National Cleaning Day scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The exercise will involve a temporary restriction on movement as communities across the country take part in the four-hour cleaning exercise.
Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke said the restrictions will not apply to people travelling for essential and legitimate reasons, provided they can prove their status.
Among those exempted are patients, medical workers, security personnel, private security guards on duty, tourists, journalists on assignment and drivers transporting cargo to other countries.
Rusoke said patients heading to hospitals should not be stopped simply because the exercise is underway.
“We don’t expect somebody going to hospital to be restrained by the temporary restriction,” he said.
However, he cautioned that people claiming exemptions must be able to reasonably explain their movements and carry valid identification or supporting documents.
Rusoke also clarified that the exemption for medical personnel does not apply only to doctors.
He said nurses and other health workers, including personnel working in areas such as X-ray services, are also covered.
Security personnel will also be allowed to move, but must identify themselves to police or other law enforcement officers.
The exemption includes private security organisations (PSOs) whose guards are on duty. Tourists will also be permitted to travel, including those heading to or returning from tourist attractions.
Drivers transporting cargo to other countries will similarly be allowed to proceed with their journeys. Journalists working on assignment during the cleaning exercise will also be permitted to move.
However, Rusoke warned journalists to carry valid identification and ensure that their movements are genuinely connected to their work. He said police may question people who attempt to use an exemption as an excuse to engage in unrelated private activities.
Police said people with other genuine and compelling reasons to travel may also be allowed to move, depending on the circumstances.
Rusoke urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement officers and avoid confrontations by clearly explaining their reasons for travelling and providing the necessary documentation.
The clarification follows confusion and disagreements reported during the first National Cleaning Day, when some people complained of being stopped while trying to attend to essential duties.
The second National Cleaning Day will take place on Saturday, August 29, with the main activities scheduled to take place in Sh Municipality.
The exercise is part of the Government’s programme requiring citizens to dedicate four hours on the last Saturday of every month to cleaning their communities.
The inaugural National Cleaning Day was held on July 25, 2026, after Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announced the programme as a monthly Government initiative. Cabinet had approved the programme in August 2025, with the aim of improving sanitation, preventing disease and promoting collective responsibility for the environment.
The first exercise was officially launched in Kisenyi, Kampala, by Vice President Jessica Alupo, with Prime Minister Nabbanja, Ministers, local leaders and members of the public taking part. KCCA said residents swept streets, desilted drainage channels, collected rubbish and loaded waste onto trucks.
However, the first exercise also exposed a major waste-collection challenge. Kampala normally generates about 2,000–2,500 tonnes of solid waste every day, while its collection capacity has historically been lower than the amount generated.
