By Ben Musanje
Thousands of schoolchildren in Jinja are set to gain access to safe drinking water after the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Alumni Association of Uganda launched the Clean SIP Campaign, a nationwide drive aimed at reducing waterborne diseases in schools through affordable ceramic water filtration systems.
Launched ahead of this year’s Nelson Mandela Day celebrations, the campaign brings together the MWF Alumni Association, SPOUTS of Water Uganda, Rotary District 9213, CINAT Group Limited and several development partners to install ceramic water filters in five rural and peri-urban schools across Jinja District and the greater Busoga region.
The initiative follows a community needs assessment conducted by the MWF Alumni Association and SPOUTS of Water Uganda, which found that although the schools had access to water sources, none could guarantee learners safe drinking water.
Speaking during the Mandela Day Activities’ launch at Reach A Hand Africa offices in Lungujja, Rubaga division, MWF Alumni Association President Don Patrick Bugingo said the campaign was designed to keep children healthy and in school.
“This year we are running the Clean SIP Campaign to create access to safe drinking water in five rural and peri-urban schools in Jinja. We chose this campaign because it is closely aligned with keeping young learners healthy and ensuring they stay in school,” Bugingo said.
He noted that the partnership with SPOUTS of Water Uganda would provide ceramic water filters that eliminate the need to boil water while protecting children from diseases such as diarrhoea and typhoid.
The assessment paints a worrying picture. More than 3,000 learners across the five beneficiary schools rely on unsafe drinking water despite having piped supplies or storage tanks. Several schools have broken or vandalized filtration systems, while others depend on untreated or chemically treated water that remains unsafe for consumption.
The schools include Buwenda Primary School, Uganda Railways Primary and Special Needs School, Ripples of Hope Primary School, Lakesite Primary School and Spire Road Primary School, which serves dozens of visually impaired learners.
Under the campaign’s Power of One initiative, supporters can sponsor a ceramic water filtration unit for UGX100,000, with each filter capable of serving approximately 100 learners. Organisers aim to raise UGX100 million to distribute 1,000 water filters to schools and surrounding communities.
Rotary District 9213 Governor Gerald Obai said partnerships remain critical in expanding access to clean water.
“When we have partners with whom we can work together, we are always willing to join them because it enables us to reach more people and create lasting impact. Clean water is at the heart of healthy communities,” Obai said.
SPOUTS of Water Uganda Chief Executive Officer Jackson Katende said the Ugandan manufacturer has been working since 2015 to expand access to safe drinking water and expects to become the world’s largest ceramic water filter manufacturer by the end of the year.
“About 70 percent of the population still struggles to access clean and safe drinking water. That is why we continue investing in locally manufactured ceramic water filters that make safe water affordable and accessible,” Katende said.
The campaign has also attracted support from communications and development partners, including CINAT Group Limited, which is leading public awareness efforts to mobilise wider participation.
Speaking on behalf of CINAT Group, Michael Nimoh said the company joined the initiative to amplify the campaign’s message and encourage greater community involvement.
“We believe in supporting social impact campaigns that create lasting change. Our role is to ensure the message reaches communities and inspires more people to support access to safe drinking water,” he said.
The first installations will take place on July 18, when MWF Alumni, development partners, volunteers and community members converge at Lakesite Primary School in Jinja to commemorate Nelson Mandela Day under the theme “Safe Water. Healthy Learners. Brighter Futures.”
Organisers are calling on individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and government agencies to support the initiative through sponsorship, volunteering and public advocacy, saying access to safe drinking water remains one of the most effective investments in children’s health, education and future. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
