Empowering schools to instil good hygiene habits in children and maintain infrastructure in rural Uganda

In 2017, The Water Trust partnered with Mutunda sub-county in Kiryandongo district with the objectives of universal coverage of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) across all 18 government primary schools, benefitting directly more than 14,000 children and indirectly the more than 40,000 people that live in the students’ communities. The project employed user-centred design of handwashing facilities and invested in teacher training and coaching to improve school management and teaching practices. At the project’s conclusion, 89% of students observed using the latrine were observed washing their hands with soap, and handwashing facility coverage in the area is estimated to have increased from 5% of households to 21%. Facility maintenance practices improved dramatically, however, in the one-year project period the challenge of establishing a clear revenue source for future repairs and pit emptying remained unmet.