In a bid to improve the sanitation and hygiene that are health concerns in Kampala markets, Uganda Breweries Limited has launched a sanitation project that will see the brewery construct modern public sanitation facilities for the residents and traders of Nakulabye, Katwe, Mengo and Mulago Markets.
The project dubbed the “Kampala City Markets water and Sanitation” has been done in partnership with the Kabaka Foundation, which is an NGO presided over by His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda. The 3 months project which is part of UBL’s “Water of Life” initiative will cost UGX 300 Million and will benefit over 26,000 people.
Under this project, each Market will get a modern sanitation facility with eight units, a toilet for people with disabilities, a washroom for men and women, three urinal bowls for men, one shared attendants room, a water reservoir of 5000 liters, a 1000 liter over-head tank and a water pump.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony at Nakulabye Market, Uganda Breweries Managing Director Mark Ocitti said, “Access to clean sanitation facilities is critical to the health and prosperity of our communities, and yet, too many people especially in the markets around the city do not have access to these basic services. Uganda Breweries is proud to partner with the Kabaka Foundation to reform and improve the lives of more than 26,000 people who live and work around these markets.”
Ocitti noted that this project is not the first done in partnership with the Buganda Kingdom. “UBL and the Kingdom have a long standing partnership to brew Ngule beer, the Kingdoms official beer. The beer is made from cassava and sorghum all of which are sourced locally from Buganda Kingdom.”
The guest of honor Attorney General Buganda Kingdom Owek. Chris Bwanika. commended Uganda Breweries for the initiative of protecting and improving the health of Ugandans.
“Proper sanitation and hygiene are vital to the health of everyone in the community. These sanitation facilities that will be constructed in Nakulabye, Mengo, Mulago and Katwe will address some of the challenges that the people in these markets have been facing in terms of sanitation.”
In his remarks, Oweekitibwa Chris Bwanika, a Trustee in the Foundation said, “This project marks another milestone in achieving Kabaka foundation’s aim of improving sanitation. Kampala city markets have dilapidated sanitation facilities and with the construction of these new facilities, we will now be able to address the problem of poor sanitation and the consequent spread of diseases among the residents, especially the children,”
The Mayor of Lubaga Joyce Ssebugwawo lauded UBL for supplementing the local leaders’ efforts towards improving Health and Sanitation.
“Thank you for continuing this journey with us as a community and for complementing our efforts as Local Government in providing a c lean and safe environment for our communities.”
Uganda Breweries Limited has in the past years run similar projects. In 2017, the company constructed public sanitation facilities worth UGX 300 million at Port Bell and Kirombe markets. The project benefits over 12,000 residents, traders and visitors to the two areas. UBL has also previously constructed sanitation facilities in Ggaba market and Kinawataka market.
