Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, The WASH Foundation is on track to provide safe water to all six focal schools in Uganda. These investments in clean water and hygiene are laying the groundwork for healthier students, stronger attendance, and long-term community change.
A new water well for Ochegen Primary School
In January, The WASH Foundation drilled a new water well, also known as a borehole, at Ochegen Primary School in Uganda’s Tororo District. This safe water source will serve 1,250 students (588 girls and 662 boys) and 15 teachers who previously relied on an unprotected community well for drinking water.
Students and teachers will no longer have to collect water from a source that exposed them to contamination and waterborne disease. In February, our team will install a hand pump and train school staff and volunteer members of a water user committee to operate, maintain, and repair the water well so it remains a reliable source of clean water for years to come.
Rainwater catchment systems at Apuwai and Kallait Primary Schools
At Apuwai Primary School, our efforts showed that the groundwater had too high of an iron content to be suitable for drilling and producing safe drinking water. To ensure students still gain safe water access, the school will receive two rainwater catchment systems, each connected to 10,000-liter storage tanks that collect rainwater from the school roofs.
These systems will serve Apuwai’s 931 students, pairing stored rainwater with filtration and treatment so it is safe to drink. School staff will receive filters and training on how to treat and manage the water, ensuring that, with careful use and long-term care, each rainwater system can provide safe water for hundreds of students.
Kallait Primary School, which serves more than 1,600 students, will also receive two rainwater catchment systems. Although there is a water well near the school, it is frequently dysfunctional and cannot meet the needs of all students, especially during periods of high demand. The new rainwater systems will supplement the existing supply, while filters and treatment protocols will help ensure water is safe for daily consumption.
Why clean water at school matters
Only 42% of Uganda’s primary schools have access to water on campus, and less than half have reliable places for children to wash their hands. Without safe water and basic WASH services, students face a higher risk of diarrhea and other waterborne illnesses that can keep them out of class and threaten their long-term health.
Access to clean water at school is especially important for girls, who are more likely to miss class when facilities are unsafe or inadequate. By improving water access and pairing it with WASH education, The WASH Foundation’s programs support student health, dignity, and educational opportunity.
What comes next: WASH-in-Schools and WASH-in-HCF trainings
Water infrastructure is just the first step in The WASH Foundation’s comprehensive WASH model. After these new systems are in place, our team will launch WASH-in-Schools trainings to help teachers embed life-saving hygiene practices into daily classroom routines. These interactive lessons, delivered over several months, help students build habits like proper handwashing, safe water storage, and latrine use that protect their health for life.
At the same time, updated WASH-in-Health Care Facilities programming will equip healthcare workers with the tools and knowledge they need to maintain safe water, sanitation, and hygiene at clinics and health centers. Together, these approaches help ensure that clean water infrastructure is used well, cared for over time, and supported by a culture of hygiene in both schools and health facilities.
Learn more about our WASH-in-Schools and WASH-in-HCF programs on our website:
- WASH-in-Schools: https://thewashfoundation.org/wash-in-schools/
- WASH-in-Health Care Facilities: https://thewashfoundation.org/washinhealthcare/
How you can help bring water to every school
This work is only possible because of people who believe every child deserves safe water and a healthy start in life. Your generosity is helping The WASH Foundation reach six schools and one healthcare center in Uganda with clean water, sanitation, and hygiene programming that will impact thousands of students and families for years to come.
You can help fund the next borehole, rainwater system, or training by making a gift today at https://give.thewashfoundation.org/campaign/646307/donate.
Every contribution brings us closer to a future where no child has to miss school or risk illness because they lack something as basic as clean water.
