By Johannah Nnatongo
KAMPALA – Jubilee Insurance Uganda has called on corporate organisations to support Kampala’s monthly National Cleaning Day by providing sanitation equipment and encouraging employees to participate in community cleaning activities.
The appeal followed a city cleaning exercise on Saturday in which Jubilee Insurance staff joined officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to clear streets in the central business district, highlighting the need for stronger private sector participation in improving urban sanitation.
Jubilee Insurance Uganda Chief Executive Officer Eugine Mutekhele said many people were willing to volunteer but were held back by a lack of basic cleaning tools, including brushes, spades and protective gloves.
He said the company would engage other businesses to pool resources and increase support for the government-led initiative.
Mutekhele urged companies to recognise their responsibility beyond commercial operations by investing in activities that promote environmental protection and public health.
He also called for a change in public attitudes towards sanitation, saying cleanliness should become a daily responsibility rather than something observed only during designated community cleaning exercises.
The exercise started at Jubilee Insurance’s head offices on Kimathi Avenue before proceeding through Parliament Avenue, Kampala Road, Nasser Road, Rosebury and Dastur Street.
Following the exercise, Jubilee Insurance handed over the cleaning equipment used by its staff to KCCA officials to support subsequent sanitation activities.
Eliazar Balwaine, KCCA’s Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration in Kampala Central, welcomed the company’s contribution, saying partnerships with private organisations were essential to strengthening public participation.
He observed that although the government had introduced the monthly cleaning programme, its implementation had faced challenges, partly because communities lacked the equipment required to participate effectively.
Balwaine said KCCA would invite Jubilee Insurance representatives to its next council meeting to explore additional areas of collaboration.
Shaherose Jamal, Director of Jubilee Life and Health Insurance, also appealed to businesses to take an active role in community development, describing voluntary participation in sanitation activities as an important aspect of responsible citizenship.
She commended the government for setting aside one Saturday each month for community cleaning and urged companies to help raise awareness and encourage wider participation.
Jamal said Jubilee Insurance had already held discussions with Kampala Central Mayor Salim Uhuru and Kampala Minister Minsa Kabanda, who had pledged their support for the initiative.
She added that the company was interested in broadening its partnership with KCCA beyond sanitation to include other community-focused programmes.
Meanwhile, Sheila Komugisha, the KCCA woman councillor representing Kamwokya and Kololo, said sustained cooperation between the public and private sectors was necessary to address Kampala’s sanitation challenges and prevent diseases associated with poor hygiene.
She thanked Jubilee Insurance for supporting the exercise and encouraged other corporate organisations to contribute towards keeping the city clean.
The company’s participation is expected to encourage greater private sector involvement in the monthly initiative, particularly through the provision of equipment, mobilisation of volunteers and sustained community engagement.