DEVELOPMENT STUDIES STUDENTS FROM UCU CLEANS KAME MARKET, MUKONO
On 1st February 2014, students from Uganda Christian University- Development Studies launched their campaign against poor waste management. The students demonstrated the need for a clean and healthy environment and that it is every ones’ right. The team participated in a-one-day garbage collection exercise at Kame market (Commonly known as Kikko Market) Mukono Town.
More than 100 students from all BDS classes participated. The objective of the cleaning exercise was intended at; reminding our people of their great responsibility to keeping a clean environment since they deal in food stuffs; but also to promote a spirit of service among our students. As a university, we wish to give back to our neighbors and this is one of the ways we can do that.
During the exercise, the local leadership of the market was represented by the chairperson himself, and his secretary. They supported students with materials such as; gloves, rakes and wheel-barrow, spades, sacks, and brooms. These supplemented what they students had carried. The venders in the market were grateful with the cleaning exercise. Most of them said that over time, rubbish accumulated in the market because the Municipality trucks are broken down and its only one tractor that picks the rubbish only once a week.
As a Department of Development Studies, such community outreach activities will be conducted on a monthly basis so that we remind and educate our people of the health hazards that come as a result of such uncollected and indiscriminative dumping of wastes. We will be moving to schools, Churches, vocational institutions and among others on matters on hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Sexuality, Fitness, Drug abuse among other health challenges our societies meet in their day to day lives.

The writer is a Lecturer in the Department of Development Studies and;
A Patron to the Development studies students Association, Uganda Christian University