Hoima City has been selected as the national site for Uganda’s September 26 National Cleaning Day, with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja announcing temporary movement restrictions as the government seeks to mobilise communities around cleaner and safer urban environments.
Movement within the designated areas will be restricted between 7 am and 10 am, according to the arrangements announced for the exercise. Exceptions will be made for ambulances, security patrol vehicles, doctors and people travelling to catch flights.
Those seeking to move under the exemptions will be required to provide supporting documentation to authorities.
The decision to centre the national exercise in Hoima comes as the city undergoes a major infrastructure transformation linked to Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
Hoima’s growing national profile
Hoima has emerged as an important infrastructure and investment centre in western Uganda, with the government developing the city alongside major oil-sector projects and sports infrastructure.
Its new Hoima City Stadium is among the facilities being prepared for AFCON 2027. The Uganda Local Organising Committee recently reported that about 95% of CAF-recommended upgrades at the stadium had been completed, with the remaining work including a VVIP pedestrian bridge.
The government has also linked preparations for the tournament to wider investments in roads, training facilities and other infrastructure around Hoima. Parliament reported in April that Shs213 billion had been committed to upgrading selected roads around Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium as part of the broader AFCON preparations.
AFCON 2027 is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania serving as co-hosts.
The cleaning exercise therefore gives Hoima an opportunity to showcase the city’s public spaces and reinforce preparations for increased activity as major national and international events approach.
Security tightened after previous incident
Deputy Police Spokesperson Diana Nandawula condemned a shooting incident that occurred during the previous National Cleaning Day exercise, saying security arrangements have since been strengthened.
The enhanced security measures are intended to ensure that the September 26 exercise proceeds without a repeat of the incident.
Authorities are expected to enforce the temporary movement restrictions while maintaining access for emergency and essential services.
The requirement for people seeking exemptions to carry supporting documents is intended to help police and other security agencies distinguish legitimate essential travel from ordinary movement during the restricted period.
National cleaning exercise
National Cleaning Day is intended to mobilise citizens, local authorities and public institutions to participate in cleaning public spaces and improving sanitation.
For the September 26 exercise, the three-hour movement restriction is expected to create a period in which communities can participate in cleaning activities with reduced traffic and other disruptions.
The exercise also places renewed attention on the relationship between clean public spaces, urban management and the image of cities preparing to accommodate major events.
For Hoima, that connection is particularly significant as the city prepares for a larger national and international profile through its expanding infrastructure and proposed role in Uganda’s AFCON 2027 preparations.
The government has said Uganda remains on course to complete its AFCON stadium infrastructure by the end of 2026, with Hoima City Stadium, Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium and Mandela National Stadium among the facilities undergoing preparation.
Residents and travellers in affected areas will therefore be required to plan their movements around the 7 am–10 am restriction on September 26, while those falling under the permitted categories should carry the necessary documentation.
