KAMPALA – Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has earmarked Shs50 million to support efforts to eliminate bedbugs in communities across the capital following increasing complaints from residents over the growing infestation.
The funding was announced by KCCA Executive Director Hajat Sharifah Buzeki during the authority’s weekly Weyonje community clean-up exercise held in Kawempe One Parish. The Saturday initiative promotes public hygiene, proper solid waste management and waste sorting at source.
During the exercise, residents appealed to KCCA to step up interventions against the spread of bedbugs and cockroaches, saying the pests have become a major concern in many parts of Kampala.
The clean-up attracted participation from the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and representatives of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
PLU representative Henry Mpiima said the organisation has mobilised young people to participate in Bulungi Bwansi clean-up campaigns, which started at village level before expanding to parishes.
He said volunteers have also been fumigating homes but are struggling to meet the increasing demand from households affected by bedbugs and cockroaches.
“We have been fumigating homes as part of the campaign, but the number of households infested with bedbugs and cockroaches continues to grow,” Mpiima said, appealing to KCCA for additional support.
Kawempe Kirokole LC I Chairperson, Kawempe Division councillor and Deputy Mayor Joseph Kibuga said many residents endure bedbug infestations quietly because they are embarrassed to discuss the problem publicly.
According to Kibuga, the extent of the infestation is evident from the number of residents who regularly seek fumigation chemicals from his office to control bedbugs and cockroaches.
He blamed the problem on poor sanitation, overcrowded housing and inadequate ventilation, saying the conditions create a favourable breeding environment for the pests.
Buzeki called on local leaders to identify the worst-hit communities to enable KCCA to target fumigation efforts more effectively. She stressed that maintaining proper household hygiene remains critical in controlling both bedbugs and cockroaches.
She also warned residents against establishing illegal dumping sites, saying offenders risk prosecution under the law, and urged vendors removed from city streets to relocate to existing KCCA and privately owned markets as the authority explores opportunities to create additional market spaces.
Kibuga further raised concerns over inadequate waste collection services, noting that Kawempe Division lacks sufficient garbage trucks to manage the volume of waste generated.
He appealed to KCCA to deploy more trucks and prioritise the construction and upgrading of the Kiyanja drainage channel to address recurring flooding in the area.
Responding to the concerns, Buzeki said KCCA currently operates only 34 garbage trucks across Kampala but noted that Parliament had approved funding in the current financial year to procure five additional trucks.
On drainage, she said KCCA has faced years of inadequate funding for drainage infrastructure but revealed that President Yoweri Museveni directed the Ministry of Finance in March to fund Kampala’s drainage improvement programme.
Buzeki said work will begin on major drainage channels, including Lubigi and Nalukolongo, while maintenance of other drainage systems will continue as more funding becomes available.
