New latrines and handwashing bring pupils back to two Bunyangabu schools

Person

Jolly is deputy head teacher at Rubona Primary School. The pupils of two schools are at the centre of this story.

Place

Rubona Sub-County and Rwimi Town Council, Bunyangabu District, including Rubona Primary School and Kaburaisoke Hill Primary School.

Challenge

In several schools one pit latrine was shared by all pupils and staff. Parents withdrew children over safety and privacy. Kaburaisoke Hill Primary had no clean water on site, so pupils lost learning time walking to find it.

Response

In 2024 JESE, funded by Simavi, started the WASH, Learn and Share project to build WASH model schools in nine primary schools and improve WASH in 18 surrounding communities. Schools built latrines and got mobile handwashing stations. Pupils learned to make reusable sanitary pads and liquid soap. WASH Angels clubs now promote hygiene. Schools also run matooke plantations, vegetable growing, soap-making and pad-making, and the income funds the school and loans to teachers.

Change

Rubona Primary grew from 712 pupils in 2024 to 837. Kaburaisoke Hill Primary grew from 190 pupils in 2024 to 305 in 2026. Rwimi Town Council leaders built an extra two-stance latrine at Kaburaisoke Hill. At Rubona, teachers used loans to buy three goats and a cow; the goats have multiplied to eight. Schools plan to keep producing soap and pads to sell.