Solar-Powered Water Supply Eases Menstruation Challenges and Boosts Girls’ Education in Nawansaso, Kamuli district

By Ben Musanje

In the quiet village of Nawansaso, Budhasi Zone, Nawansaso Parish, Kitayunjwa Sub County, Kamuli District, access to clean water has long been a struggle for residents and students alike.

Children used to walk long distances to fetch water, often sharing contaminated wells with animals, risking diseases such as cholera and diarrhea.

Girls, in particular, faced challenges managing menstrual hygiene, sometimes missing school as a result.

But a recent government initiative, positively intervening in the situation, has changed all that. The installation of a solar-powered water supply system at Nawansaso Parents School, under the Ministry of Water and Environment, has brought a new era of convenience, safety, and improved learning for the community.

Improved School Enrollment and Hygiene

Shamim Kyakuwaira, Head Teacher at Nawansaso Parents School at Nawansaso village shared how the project has transformed daily life at the school.

“Before, we didn’t have water, and students had to walk to the community borehole. Girls especially faced challenges managing menstruation. Now, with water on site, hygiene is easier to maintain, classrooms are cleaner, and our students are healthier and happier,” Kyakuwaira said.

The impact is visible in enrollment numbers. Between 2020 and 2024, student numbers rose from 180 to 295, with girls accounting for around 150 of the current students. “The availability of water has encouraged parents to send their children, especially girls, back to school,” the head teacher added.

Sarah Biryeri, Senior Woman Teacher at Nawansaso Primary School emphasized the impact on menstrual hygiene management. “Before, learners struggled because the borehole we shared with the community could break or be overcrowded,” she said. “Girls would even miss class during menstruation. Now, with water on site, they can wash and prepare themselves on time. They come to class healthy, clean, and ready to learn.”

Bosco Kibekityo, Director of Martyrs Mixed Secondary School in Nawansaso, corroborated these observations. “Previously, children faced difficulties accessing water, delaying lessons and meal preparation. Now, enrollment has risen from 282 to 382 students. The water project has eliminated conflicts at community boreholes and has improved both hygiene and academic performance,” Kibekityo said.

Community Benefits Beyond the Classroom

The new water system has also had a significant impact on the wider community.

Longtime resident Geoffrey Bagaga, who has lived in Nawansaso since 1958, explained the previous hardships: “We used to walk three kilometers to Bulogo to get water. Sometimes, we had to share wells with animals, which caused illness. People would even fight over water at the boreholes. We had a small community fund to maintain the borehole, but it wasn’t enough.”

Annet Zilamwine, Chairperson of Bubigit Zone, Bulogo Parish, Namwendwa Sub County highlighted the dangers women and girls faced traveling long distances for water, including the risk of sexual abuse. “Until the government built the tap water system, our women and girls were at risk when fetching water,” she said.

Government and Technological Intervention

The solar-powered water project is part of a broader national effort by the NRM government to increase access to safe water.

Following directives from President Yoweri Museveni, the Ministry of Water and Environment has shifted from grid-based systems to solar-powered water supplies.

This initiative aims to address water scarcity for domestic use and irrigation, particularly in Eastern Uganda, where access has historically been limited.

Local educators and residents alike credit the project with improving school performance, household life, and community well-being. “Everything is now in order,” Kyakuwaira said. “Students are healthier, meals are prepared on time, and the school program runs smoothly. We are very grateful to the government and all the stakeholders involved for bringing this project to us.”

A Model for Future Development

With the success of the Nawansaso water project, the community hopes that similar initiatives will be extended to other underserved regions.

The combination of solar-powered technology and government support has proven to be a game-changer, not only for education but also for public health, gender equality and community development-and this all something members of the impacted communities are eternally grateful to the government of President Museveni for. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).