The Uganda Police Force has acknowledged operational lapses during the inaugural National Cleaning Day exercise held over the weekend and pledged to review the operation while taking disciplinary action against officers accused of misconduct.
The mandatory monthly cleaning exercise was announced by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Thursday and first implemented on Saturday, July 25.
Under the directive, businesses were closed and movement was restricted between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to allow communities to participate in cleaning activities.
During the enforcement, motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists found on the roads after 7:00 a.m. had their vehicles impounded, while others were ordered to park by the roadside until the exercise concluded.
However, the operation sparked public criticism after videos circulated on social media showing police officers forcing members of the public to sweep streets and collect litter.
Other clips showed officers assaulting pedestrians and motorists who were found on the roads after the designated time or attempted to evade the restrictions.
Addressing journalists at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke described the incidents as regrettable and confirmed that the cases had been referred to the relevant commanders for disciplinary action.
Kituuma emphasized that officers who assaulted civilians or compelled them to participate in the cleaning exercise acted outside the scope of their duties. He clarified that the police mandate was to enforce movement restrictions during the exercise, not to force members of the public to clean.
He said the widely shared incident involving an officer assaulting a man had already been forwarded to police commanders for investigation and appropriate disciplinary action.
He added that, apart from the isolated cases that surfaced on social media, the operation was largely successful, with police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) effectively enforcing the directive and the majority of the public complying with the restrictions.
While National Cleaning Day has been broadly welcomed as a government initiative aimed at improving sanitation, environmental cleanliness and public health, its first implementation exposed communication and logistical challenges.
Travellers, tourists and some essential service providers were among those affected by uncertainty over the scope of the movement restrictions.
Police say lessons from the inaugural exercise will inform future National Cleaning Day operations, with greater emphasis on professionalism, public awareness and respect for citizens’ rights during enforcement.
By Our Reporter
27th July 2026
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