Keeping a city clean is a shared responsibility that requires discipline, respect for the law, and commitment from everyone who lives there. The recent arrest of 17 people in Munuki for allegedly violating municipal sanitation regulations should serve as a wake-up call to residents, business owners and foreign nationals living in South Sudan.
It is disappointing that some people continue to disregard basic sanitation regulations despite repeated calls for responsible waste disposal and environmental protection.
Whether South Sudanese citizens or foreigners, everyone living in Juba must respect the country’s municipal laws.
No one can justify throwing rubbish in streets, dumping waste in drainage channels, urinating in public places, or operating businesses in unhygienic environments.
Such behaviour not only makes the city unattractive but also creates conditions that encourage disease outbreaks, block drainage systems and threaten public health.
Juba should learn from countries such as Rwanda, particularly its capital, Kigali, where cleanliness has become an important part of urban management and civic responsibility.
Rwanda demonstrates that a clean city is achievable when citizens, businesses and government institutions work together.
However, copying Rwanda’s success should go beyond admiring its clean streets. South Sudan must adopt practical measures that encourage citizens to take responsibility for their surroundings.
Kigali’s sanitation system combines regulations, public education, inspections and community participation. Rwanda’s community cleaning initiative, known as Umuganda, is also an example of how collective responsibility can contribute to environmental cleanliness.
Juba City Council should strengthen regular environmental inspections and ensure that sanitation regulations are applied consistently.
Those found violating the law should face appropriate penalties, regardless of their nationality, social status or business connections.
However, enforcement should not be limited to arrests. Authorities must also educate residents about proper waste disposal and provide accessible waste collection services.
The government should invest in garbage collection vehicles, public waste bins, drainage systems and designated dumping sites.
It is unfair to demand a clean environment from residents without providing the necessary facilities to manage waste.
Landlords, market vendors, shop owners, restaurants and institutions must also be held responsible for maintaining hygienic surroundings.
Every neighbourhood should have clear sanitation standards, with regular monitoring by municipal authorities.
Foreign nationals operating businesses or residing in South Sudan must equally respect local laws. At the same time, South Sudanese citizens should demonstrate responsible behaviour instead of blaming others for the country’s sanitation challenges.