“Bulungi bwansi”. Directly translated from Luganda to English it means “for the good of the earth”. Luganda is the language of the largest first nation of Uganda, the Buganda Kingdom.

Bulungi bwansi, activities aimed to improve the health, wealth and standards of living of the people, is rooted in the traditions of the Buganda Kingdom for centuries.

According to Omuwandiisi (Secretary)of Mutuba V – Nakiwogo, Ms. Namutyaba Elizabeth, the bulungi bwansi initiative was revived in schools in Entebbe in 2016.

Within Buganda Kingdom, Mutuba V – Nakiwogo is the name of Division B of Entebbe Municipality.

According to Ssentebbe (Chairperson) of bulungi bwansi of Mutuba V – Nakiwogo, Hon. Mawejje Teophil Henry, it can be traced way back to the 1850s.

It is a practice in which the Kababaka (King of Buganda) decrees days for joint community action for the greater good.

Be it cleaning wells, clearing tall grass from the footpaths or roads, sweeping and collecting rubbish, tree planting, among other activities.

Ssabasajja Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, the 36th and current King of Buganda, is following in the traditions of the past kings of Buganda in promoting bulungi bwansi,

Including, among young children and the youth – for example, as reported by The Independent, “Buganda subjects urged to promote community service among youngsters”

Ms. Namutyaba, also happens to be the Deputy Head Teacher of Sacred Heart Bugonga Primary School. As we chatted, she enlightened me on what the day was about.

Led by Hon. Mawejje, on Saturday, pupils of schools in Entebbe took the lead in cleaning the municipality.

There was an exhibition, at the Kiwafu West football field, showcasing how Entebbe schools are inculcating among their pupils the culture of bulungi bwansi through efficient waste management and economically lucrative waste recycling.

A pupil of The Early Learning Primary School, proudly shows a desk organizer made of recycled paper tubes of toilet paper rolls, card board and cloth.

I was so impressed.

I had never thought of paper tubes used in toilet paper rolls as a great waste recycle ingrediet for a desk organiser.

As I chatted with the Director and Founder of The Early Learning Primary School, Ms. Agnes Biryahwaho, my interest to want to see more of the high quality products from recycled waste her pupils are making was enhanced.

Products, such as the cobweb remover made out of plastic bottles, that caught my attention.

Then there were the products made by the pupils of Kiwafu Muslim School, which included useful educational tools (counters – small balls made of recycled paper) and as well as for domestic use (door mats, flower vases, and others).

While her pupils had lunch, I chatted with the Deputy Headteacher of Kiwafu Muslim, Ms. Ndikuwa Zamu, who educated me on how they are using bulungi bwansi not only for environment conservation.

Pupils collecting plastic bottles during the events at Kiwafu West Football field.

Kiwafu Muslim Primary School and other schools in Entebbe are using bulungi bwansi also to skill their pupils with artisanal skills, which they can use for income generation.

The pupils who participated in the bulungi bwansi activities on Saturday did not disappoint. Throughout the function at the Kiwafu West football field they did not litter.

You may think this an obvious practice that is typical, but it isn’t. Littering is the norm.

Every time there is an event at the football field, be it a crusade or a ‘developmental meeting’ or a football match, we the neighbors await significant quantities of rubbish to be generated and left behind.

Especially, plastic bottles, plastic wrappers and single use plastic bags.

Littering in Kiwafu West, moreover, is not only during events at the football field. People passing by throw rubbish where ever, without concern; and they expect others to clean up after them.

We do not have mandatory bulungi bwansi days, as is the case, for example, in Rwanda, where “Umuganda” is mandatory – on the last Saturday of every month there is mandatory nationwide community service, including cleaning the commons.

Bulungi bwansi should be promoted and or legislated to become the typical everyday at home and in the wider community.

A change of attitude towards waste – the biodegradable one to be used as feeds or as manure, among others; and the non-biodegradable one to be recycled and or destroyed in environmentally friendly ways.

A mindset change towards waste to perceive it as an income generating activity.

Let sorting of our waste with recycling in mind become normal and typical in our daily lives, As it is the case in other parts of the world.

Let bulungi bwansi days become the typical day, every day.

Owekitibwa Paul Sserumaga, Mutuba V – Nakiwogo Kabaka’s Representative (left), officiating as the Guest of Honour at the activities at Kiwafu West Football field. On his immediat right is the LC III Chairperson of Division A, Entebbe Municipality; and next to her the LC III Chairperson of Division B, Entebbe Municipality.

Profiled photo Deputy Headteacher of Kiwafu Muslim, Ms. Ndikuwa Zamu, at the exhibition.