The residents of Soroti City have been strongly urged to embrace a renewed commitment to personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness as the Yonja Campaign swept through the city in a high-energy, three-day activation held from April 25 to 27, 2025. The campaign, led by the Uganda Bikers Association (UBA), brought together a diverse coalition of community members, government officials, corporate sponsors, and media partners, all united in their call for cleaner cities and more responsible citizenship.
The Yonja Campaign, which derives its name from the Luganda word for “clean up,” is a national initiative designed to mobilize Ugandans around cleanliness, sanitation, and civic pride. In Soroti, the campaign took the form of a large-scale clean-up exercise led by the Uganda Bikers Association. Bikers from across the country descended on Soroti with a clear mission: not just to clean the city physically, but to challenge its residents to take personal responsibility for their surroundings.
Angela Semukutu, Chairperson of the Uganda Bikers Association, emphasized that Yonja is about more than sweeping streets. It is about setting a new civic standard. “We are using motorcycles not just for adventure, but to carry a message of civic action,” she said. “We believe every Ugandan has a role to play in keeping our country clean—starting with their own home and neighborhood.”
Once considered Uganda’s cleanest city, Soroti holds a unique place in the national imagination. The Yonja team specifically selected Soroti as a symbolic city to reignite that legacy. The clean-up drive targeted public spaces, markets, drainage points, and high-traffic areas, attracting hundreds of local volunteers, including students, youth groups, vendors, and leaders from all walks of life.
Mathias Kamugasho, National Coordinator of the Yonja Campaign, underscored the significance of behavioural change as the ultimate goal of the movement. “The health of a city is a reflection of its people’s habits,” he said. “When individuals embrace hygiene in their daily lives, the ripple effects reach the entire community.”
Public education was a central part of the campaign. Residents were sensitized to the importance of personal hygiene practices such as proper waste disposal, handwashing, and keeping both home and workplace environments clean. The campaign used short videos, social media storytelling, and on-ground conversations to deliver these messages in a relatable and inspiring manner.
The successful execution of the Soroti campaign was made possible by a formidable coalition of partners drawn from the corporate, media, and civic sectors. These included Nile Breweries, Service Cops and Schoolpay, Crown Beverages, CEO East Africa Magazine, Voice of Teso, Asante Waste Management, Radio Pacis, MOGAS, TT Drags and Drifts (Subaru Racing Association), and Bizaphrike. The campaign was also fully supported by the Soroti City Authorities, including the Mayor and Soroti City Council.
These partners contributed to the campaign in a variety of ways—from logistical and financial support to community mobilization and media amplification. Their combined efforts helped ensure that the campaign reached a wide audience and left a lasting impression on the city.
Anthony Jameson Orisa, Local Area Representative for Nile Breweries, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to community well-being. “We see our support for Yonja as an investment in public health and dignity,” he said. Rodney Akongel Mukula, CEO of Asante Waste Management, added that Soroti has what it takes to once again become a model city. “This campaign reminds us that Soroti can still lead by example, and that change begins when the people take ownership,” he said.
In an effort to ensure sustainability, local partners and city authorities announced that Soroti would institutionalize a monthly clean-up day to be held on the last Saturday of every month. This initiative will help build momentum beyond the Yonja visit and embed hygiene practices into the city’s regular rhythm.
UBA pledged to continue supporting these efforts, while also expanding the campaign to other regions. Plans are already underway to bring Yonja to Hoima and Gulu later in the year.
With Soroti now added to the growing list of cities touched by the Yonja Campaign, the initiative continues to gain national momentum. The campaign’s model—blending grassroots mobilization, corporate partnership, and civic storytelling—has proven effective in reviving community ownership and public accountability.
Angela Semukutu noted that Yonja is not a one-off event, but a sustained movement that seeks to change Uganda’s culture around hygiene and responsibility. “This is not just about cleaning today,” she said. “It’s about teaching our children, our leaders, and ourselves that a clean Uganda starts with a clean home, a clean street, and a clean heart.”
As the Yonja Campaign rolls forward, Soroti has set a strong example of what can happen when civic duty meets collective action—and when a city remembers the pride of being clean.
