Education Uganda Project #67257

Restore Dignity for 1,000 Girls in Ugandan schools

by Partners for Community Transformation (PaCT)

Project Report | Jul 30, 2025
Advancing School Sanitation and Hygiene

By Jovanice Arinaitwe | Communications Manager

Introduction

A safe and dignified learning environment begins with proper sanitation. Yet, for many schools in rural Uganda, especially those serving adolescent girls, this remains a critical gap. The absence of private, accessible latrines has long undermined school attendance, menstrual hygiene, and the overall well-being of learners, contributing to preventable school dropout rates among girls.

At Partners for Community Transformation (PaCT), we believe that sanitation is not just about infrastructure; it’s about equity, safety, and the right to education. Our WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) interventions focus on girl-centered solutions that restore dignity and support uninterrupted learning.

This quarter, despite limited financial resources, we achieved significant milestones by completing two girl-friendly latrine blocks in Mityana District.

Key Achievements in Q2 2025

Construction of Girl-Friendly Latrines – Nabukenya and Kassana Primary Schools (Mityana District)

In Q2 2025, PaCT successfully completed the construction of two girl-friendly, accessible latrine blocks at Nabukenya and Kassana Primary Schools, serving a combined total of over 528 girls.

Each facility was designed with privacy, safety, and dignity in mind. Key features include:

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) rooms with changing and wash spaces
Ramps and handrails for accessibility
Ventilated, well-lit stalls built to national school WASH standards

These facilities are already making a visible impact in both schools—contributing to improved hygiene, reduced absenteeism, and increased confidence among adolescent girls.

Appreciation

We extend our deepest appreciation to our generous funders in the United Kingdom, whose support was made possible through Mityana Charity UK. Your investment has helped transform the school environments at Nabukenya and Kassana, giving hundreds of girl’s access to safe, dignified, and supportive sanitation facilities.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing in the power of education, equity, and clean, safe spaces for every child.

Funding Update

During this reporting period (Q2 2025), no new funding was received. The progress reported here was made possible through careful management of existing resources and strong collaboration with the school communities.

To replicate these results in other underserved schools, PaCT is currently seeking $34,322 to support the construction of additional girl-friendly latrines, inclusive handwashing stations, and MHM room equipment. The goal is to directly benefit at least 1,000 learners across four rural schools.

The latrines at Nabukenya and Kassana Primary Schools represent more than just infrastructure they are a step toward gender equity in education. We are proud of what has been accomplished and remain committed to extending these benefits to other schools in need.

We thank all our partners, school stakeholders, and community champions for standing with us in ensuring that no girl is left behind because of inadequate sanitation.

Links:

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Mar 24, 2025
Building a Safe and Hygenic Learning Environment.

By Flavia Nakitende | Project Contributor

Pupils trained in making reusable sanitary towels.

Progress Report on Enhancing Sanitation Infrastructure in Primary Schools

Introduction

Access to safe and adequate sanitation remains a critical challenge for many schools in rural Uganda. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), inadequate sanitation disproportionately affects girls, leading to increased school absenteeism, lower academic performance, and long-term gender disparities. WHO highlights that girl-friendly latrines should ensure privacy, safety, menstrual hygiene management (MHM) facilities, and accessibility for students with disabilities.

In Uganda, the Ministry of Education and Sports reports that only 37% of primary schools have access to clean water, and 60% lack basic sanitation, with many schools in rural districts, where our projects are implemented, the pupil-to-latrine ratio remains alarmingly high, often exceeding 250:1. This directly impacts school attendance, health, and educational outcomes, particularly for girls. Hand washing facilities are equally a major challenge in schools leaving children going without washing their hands after latrine use, something that has led to increased poor hygiene related illnesses affecting children’s school attendance

To address this challenge, project aims to construct five girl-friendly, accessible latrines construct group handwashing stations and support the equipment of MHM rooms, ensuring a healthier and more inclusive learning environment for students.

Current Progress

Over the past three months, our team has made significant strides in enhancing sanitation and hygiene practices within schools. Our efforts have focused on raising awareness and implementing practical solutions to improve student well-being.

A key milestone has been the construction of a school-based group handwashing facility at Nabukenya Primary School, which is set to benefit over 320 pupils. This facility is designed to promote regular handwashing with soap, an essential practice for reducing illnesses linked to poor hygiene and for improving the overall health and school attendance of students.

In addition, we engaged 37 students in hands-on training to produce reusable sanitary towels. This initiative aims to provide a sustainable solution to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) challenges, helping reduce absenteeism related to menstruation and supporting girls to stay in school consistently.

We are optimistic that once the handwashing facility is completed, it will have a lasting impact on the school community, fostering a culture of hygiene and preventive health among the learners.

Our Funding Needs and Appeal

While we have made commendable progress, we still require $34,322 to fully implement the project. We kindly appeal to our donors and partners to continue supporting this vital initiative.

Your generous contributions will directly support the creation of safe, dignified, and inclusive sanitation facilities, ultimately benefiting 1,000 students. With your help, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a healthy, supportive environment—free from the barriers caused by poor hygiene and inadequate facilities.

Thank you for your continued generosity and unwavering commitment to improving education and health outcomes in rural Uganda. We look forward to your ongoing partnership as we work together to make a lasting difference.

Groups hand washing facility under construction.

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