By Ben Musanje
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has urged leaders, development partners and communities to invest in safe drinking water for school-going children, saying such interventions are critical to improving education and securing Uganda’s future.
Kadaga made the call during Nelson Mandela Day commemorations at Spire Road Primary School in Jinja City, where the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network Uganda launched the CleanSIP Campaign under the theme, “Safe Water. Healthy Learners. Bright Future.”
The campaign saw the donation of 250 ceramic water purification filters to five primary schools in Jinja District to improve access to safe drinking water and create healthier learning environments.
The beneficiary schools are Spire Road Primary School, Buwenda Primary School, Uganda Railway Primary School, Ripples of Hope Primary School and Lakesite Primary School.
Addressing government officials, development partners, educators, parents and learners gathered for the event, Kadaga said Nelson Mandela’s legacy continues to inspire leaders to serve their communities through practical initiatives that improve lives.
She said true leadership is measured by service to others and noted that initiatives providing safe drinking water to schoolchildren are investments in Uganda’s future because healthy learners eventually become productive citizens.
The event was organised by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network Uganda in partnership with Spouts of Water and attracted representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Uganda, Rotary District 9213, local leaders, civil society organisations and private sector partners.
The CleanSIP Campaign follows a needs assessment conducted by the alumni network and Spouts of Water, which identified inadequate access to safe drinking water in schools as a major contributor to waterborne diseases, absenteeism and poor academic performance among learners.
President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Network Uganda, Don Patrick Bugingo, said the initiative reflects the fellowship’s commitment to translating leadership into tangible community impact.
He noted that Nelson Mandela Day should not only be marked through commemorative events but also through practical actions that deliver sustainable solutions to communities.
Bugingo explained that beyond distributing the ceramic water filters, the campaign would also provide training for learners, teachers and school administrators on proper use, hygiene practices and maintenance to ensure the filtration systems remain effective over the long term.
He added that research conducted before the project revealed that many schools continue to struggle with access to safe drinking water, exposing children to preventable illnesses that negatively affect their health, school attendance and academic performance.
He urged school administrators, teachers and learners to take good care of the donated filtration units so they can continue serving future generations.
Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Uganda, Kevin Higgins, commended the Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni for demonstrating leadership through community service.
He said the initiative exemplifies the values promoted under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellowship by empowering young African leaders to develop sustainable solutions to local challenges.
Higgins reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting young African leaders, adding that investing in clean water is also an investment in health, education and Uganda’s future because access to safe drinking water forms the foundation for healthier and stronger communities.
Representing CINAT Group, Chief Executive Officer Jackson Katende said the campaign demonstrated the power of partnerships in addressing challenges affecting children.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to improving community health and expressed optimism that the programme would be expanded beyond Jinja District to benefit more schools across Uganda.
Organisers credited the success of the initiative to a broad coalition of partners, including the U.S. Embassy in Uganda, Spouts of Water, Rotary District 9213 and its clubs, Smart Girls Uganda, CINAT Group, Gazaland UOX, Reach A Hand Uganda, Pepsi, Tech Reach Africa, Lions Club of Jinja, Beyond the Blueprint, SUMZ Food Industries and other organisations that contributed financial and technical support.
The celebrations also featured cultural performances by learners, whose songs and dances highlighted the importance of education, health and community service.
Although heavy morning rains greeted participants, the weather did little to dampen the event as hundreds of learners, alumni, government officials and development partners gathered to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy through community action.
Organisers said the CleanSIP Campaign is expected to reduce waterborne diseases, improve school attendance and strengthen learning outcomes by ensuring that pupils have reliable access to safe drinking water throughout the school day.
They added that the initiative seeks to advance Nelson Mandela’s enduring values of service, dignity, compassion and social responsibility through sustainable, community-driven solutions that create lasting change.
The organisers said the campaign embodies Mandela’s belief that what matters most is the difference people make in the lives of others, adding that the initiative aims to improve the health of learners today while laying the foundation for stronger communities in the future. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
