The Gomba District Health Team has intensified efforts to improve household sanitation and hygiene through a community-triggering exercise on market-based sanitation conducted in Maddu Subcounty.

The sensitization campaign, held from 8th to 12th December, targeted communities in Kigumba, Nakaseeta, Rwakibira, Kabale Kamugole, Kyabagamba. The initiative aimed at empowering households with practical knowledge on affordable, durable, and comfortable sanitation technologies that can be locally adopted.

During the engagements, health officials emphasized the importance of prioritizing improved sanitation facilities using low-cost but effective technologies. Communities were encouraged to move away from unsafe and poorly constructed latrines and instead adopt improved options that promote health, dignity, and environmental safety.

A key focus of the discussions was the promotion of washable latrine slabs, an affordable technology designed to improve hygiene while reducing the risk of disease transmission.

Mukwaya James, a trained mason engaged in the exercise, assured community members that the promoted technologies are both practical and affordable.

“These sanitation technologies are possible using locally available materials. They are affordable, durable, and suitable for our communities. I encourage households to adopt them for better health and safety,” Mukwaya noted.

Iga Mathius, a sanitation promoter from Kyabagamba Village, highlighted the role of community sanitation promoters as a link between households, hardware suppliers, and trained masons.

“We have been trained to support households. We shall reach you, assess your sanitation conditions, and guide you on what is needed to improve your facilities,” he explained.

Local leadership also welcomed the initiative. The LC I Chairperson of Nakaseeta Village, Kisoro Yokana, thanked the District Health Team for prioritizing community sanitation.

“We appreciate the health team for coming to the grassroots. I encourage all residents to embrace this programme so that we can address the sanitation challenges currently affecting our village,” he said.

The District Health Inspector, Mr. Mutaka Dan, commended the LC I leadership for mobilizing community members and urged households to fully adopt the promoted sanitation technologies.

“Poorly constructed latrines remain a major challenge in many villages. These technologies will help address sanitation gaps, especially during the rainy season when the risk of disease outbreaks is high. I urge communities to work closely with village sanitation teams for continued support,” Mutaka emphasized.

The community-triggering exercise registered positive outcomes, with residents gaining new knowledge on improved latrine construction technologies and pledging to adopt them at household level.

In addition, village-specific action plans were developed to guide follow-up activities. Each village was assigned a responsible sanitation team to ensure continuous engagement, monitoring, and support for households implementing the recommended sanitation improvements.

The Gomba District Health Team reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community-led sanitation initiatives as a key strategy for preventing disease, improving public health, and promoting sustainable hygiene practices across the district.

Kimuli Musa Health Inspector training the members on health sanitation best practices in the home.

The district health inspector Mr Mutaka Dan with village members displaying images of different types and status of latrines captured during the baseline survey.

The district health inspector Mr Mutaka Dan with the Kigumba village member disseminating the baseline data of their sanitation status in Kigumba village.