Safe drinking water for 20 schools in Uganda

Introduction

In many rural Ugandan schools, reliable access to clean water is still a daily struggle that affects children’s ability to learn, stay healthy, and feel safe. Without water for drinking, handwashing, cleaning, or supporting sanitation facilities, pupils often begin their school day already at a disadvantage. Long distances to collect water, exposure to unsafe water sources, and lack of hygiene facilities contribute to repeated illnesses, reduced concentration, and poor attendance. Girls, in particular, face greater challenges when water is insufficient to support their personal hygiene, often forcing them to miss classes or feel uncomfortable participating fully in school activities.

PaCT’s approach recognizes that water and hygiene are not optional add-ons but essential components of a functional learning environment. Every intervention we implement whether it is a water tank, a borehole, or a handwashing system is designed to eliminate long-standing barriers that undermine learning and wellbeing. Even without receiving new funding under this specific GlobalGiving project, PaCT remained committed to identifying alternative partners and leveraging opportunities to ensure that children in high-need schools continue to gain access to lifesaving WASH services.

Key Achievements

During this reporting period, PaCT made significant progress by mobilizing support from Renown Collective to provide water tanks to three schools that have long suffered from unreliable water access: Ddayna Broadening Primary School, Kitama Primary School, and Busenya Primary School. These schools previously depended on shallow streams and distant community wells, where children often queued for long hours before lessons or fetched water during school hours, losing valuable learning time. The new tanks are transforming these routines by bringing water directly to the school compounds. Children now have water available throughout the day for drinking, washing hands, cleaning classrooms, and supporting sanitation facilities including latrines that previously remained underused due to lack of water. Teachers have reported that pupils are healthier, more punctual, and more engaged now that they are no longer fatigued from water collection duties. The tanks also strengthen resilience during dry months, when most informal water sources run dry and schools struggle to maintain even basic hygiene routines.

Additionally, Mityana Charity UK funded a water storage tank for Nabukenya Primary School, a school that had experienced chronic water scarcity for several years. The new tank ensures that pupils and staff have dependable water for daily needs, including safe drinking water, handwashing before meals, and supporting girls' hygiene and sanitation needs. The availability of water on-site has also reduced classroom disruptions caused by continuous water shortages and has greatly improved the school’s ability to maintain cleanliness across the compound and sanitation blocks.

Beyond physical installations, PaCT continued to work closely with all participating schools through regular monitoring, hygiene reinforcement sessions, and technical guidance on maintaining the facilities. These follow-ups ensure that water systems are used correctly, protected from misuse, and integrated into the schools’ daily routines. Hygiene promotion activities helped learners understand the importance of handwashing, responsible water use, and personal cleanliness practices that reduce preventable infections and create a healthier school environment. Teachers and school management committees were also supported to strengthen their maintenance practices, enabling them to take responsibility for long-term sustainability. Through this engagement, schools have demonstrated improved ownership of their WASH facilities, ensuring that the investments will continue benefiting learners for many years.

Appreciation to Renown Collective and Mityana Charity UK

PaCT conveys its deep appreciation to Renown Collective and Mityana Charity UK for their unwavering partnership and the critical support they provided toward the schools’ water systems. Their investment have significantly improved water access for hundreds of children who previously endured difficult and unhealthy alternatives. Their commitment continues to uplift school communities and remains central to PaCT’s broader mission of providing dignified, healthy learning environments for vulnerable learners.

Funding Update

No new contributions were received under this specific project during the reporting period. However, meaningful progress was realized through previously secured funds and new partnerships outside the GlobalGiving platform. Renown Collective supported the installation of water tanks in Ddayna Broadening, Kitama, and Busenya Primary Schools, while Mityana Charity UK funded the tank at Nabukenya Primary School.

Despite these achievements, many rural schools still lack reliable water systems and adequate hygiene facilities. PaCT continues to seek further support to expand WASH services—including additional tanks, handwashing facilities, and sanitation strengthening—to reach more children in need. Every new contribution brings us closer to ensuring that learners can study in environments that protect their health, restore their dignity, and promote lifelong success.

Links:

• PaCT 30 Years documentary
• PaCT Website