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The United States Embassy in Uganda, in partnership with the Mandela Washington Fellowship Uganda Alumni Network, has launched the Clean Sip Campaign, a major initiative aimed at improving access to safe drinking water in schools across the Busoga sub-region.
The campaign will see the distribution of more than 1,000 ceramic water filters to schools, benefiting thousands of learners in areas where access to clean and safe drinking water remains a persistent challenge.
The initiative was launched at Spire Road Primary School in Jinja City, at a time when waterborne diseases, particularly bilharzia, continue to affect communities along the shores of Lake Victoria and the surrounding islands, with children among the most vulnerable.
Speaking at the launch, First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful in addressing critical public health and education challenges in the region.
Kadaga stressed that access to clean water is essential not only for preventing disease but also for ensuring that children remain in school and are able to concentrate on their studies.
“When children stay in school without water, they cannot even focus well. Girls, in particular, need water for hygiene. They should be able to wash their hands and maintain cleanliness. Water is very important,” Kadaga said.
She commended the US Embassy and the Mandela Washington Fellowship Uganda Alumni Network for extending the initiative beyond Jinja City to benefit schools across the wider Busoga region.
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Uganda, Kevan Higgins, highlighted the broader significance of the campaign, noting that access to safe drinking water is fundamental to improving health outcomes and strengthening education systems.
“Today marks the launch of the Clean Sip Campaign with clear and meaningful goals—distributing 1,000 ceramic water filters to schools across Jinja and the greater Busoga region. That’s 1,000 steps towards a healthier future for Uganda’s children,” Higgins said.
He added that clean water is not a luxury but a basic necessity that improves sanitation, keeps children healthy and in school, and helps build stronger, more resilient communities.
According to Patrick Bugingo, President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Uganda Alumni Network, the initiative was informed by a needs assessment conducted in partnership with Spouts of Water, a local manufacturer of ceramic water filters.
The assessment established a strong link between access to safe drinking water and the quality of education received by learners.
“We found that access to safe drinking water is closely aligned with the quality of education that learners receive. This prompted us to mobilise partners and resources to procure ceramic water filters for schools in Busoga,” Bugingo said.
Implementation of the project has already begun, with the first phase covering five schools in Jinja City. Stella Nakaketo of Purifaaya, the company supplying the water purification equipment, said the long-term goal is to expand the intervention to schools across the entire Busoga region.
“This initiative will significantly reduce waterborne diseases, improve learners’ health, and enhance attendance and concentration in schools,” Nakaketo said.
Betty Linda, Head Teacher of Spire Road Primary School, welcomed the intervention, expressing confidence that the filters would help reduce illnesses caused by contaminated water, which frequently disrupt learning.
The Clean Sip Campaign is expected to play a significant role in improving the health, sanitation and learning environment for thousands of children, while supporting wider efforts to combat waterborne diseases across the Busoga sub-region.
, https://nilepost.co.ug/news/357858/us-embassy-launches-clean-sip-campaign-to-improve-safe-water-access-in-busoga-schools
