How groundwater is promoting education in Uganda's east

In many parts of eastern Uganda, groundwater is not quenching thirst only. It is also transforming the educational landscape for thousands of children, empowering communities, and boosting local economies.

Access to clean water remains a challenge in many parts of the region but groundwater is stepping in as a critical resource. 

It is increasingly driving educational opportunities and improving the quality of life.
Without this water source, many of these schools would struggle to cover bills from national water supplies. And as a result, some would face the difficult decision to shut their doors.

Martin Chemonges, a teacher at Gamatui Girls Secondary School in Kapchorwa district, lauds the “significant role that groundwater plays in enhancing educational access and health in these communities”.

Lifeline for schools

Areas such as Mbale and Kapchorwa districts have long faced difficulties in providing clean water for students.

Water scarcity often meant that children had to travel long distances to fetch water, causing them to miss school hours or drop out entirely.

It is against that background that the upcoming companion publication on drinking water by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the World Bank is expected to focus on the State of Drinking Water in the World, with a special emphasis on progress, challenges, and future goals related to global access to safe and clean drinking water.

Environment lawyers want Ugandan government to sensitize locals in the Mt. Elgon area on groundwater laws enshrined in the 1997 Water Act. (Credit: Javier Silas Omagor)

This report is anticipated to build on previous joint reports by these organizations, such as the Progress on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) report, and will assess the status of water accessibility, quality, and sustainability around the world.

It will provide updated data on global efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Further, the report seeks to provide updates on the efforts made to expand access to safe drinking water, including rural and marginalized communities.

“There are children who do not get to go to school because of the search for water and others end up being late for school because they had to fetch water to use in homesteads within the Elgon Aquifer region," says the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). 

The introduction of groundwater wells and boreholes has significantly alleviated this challenge in Uganda's east.

For example, the recently constructed borehole at Demiro Nursery and Primary School in Mbale city has been a game changer. Not only does it supply the school with a reliable source of water for drinking and sanitation, it has also ensured that students no longer have to skip school for water collection.

“Before we had the borehole, girls especially would often be absent, helping their parents fetch water from distant sources,” says Karen Nabushawo.

“Now, they can stay in class and focus on their studies.”

Tool for gender equality

Groundwater access is also making strides in achieving gender equality. Traditionally, fetching water has been a task relegated to women and girls, often taking hours out of their day.

With more groundwater wells installed in rural schools and communities, girls now have more time to focus on their education rather than spending hours at water points.

This simple change has had profound impacts on the academic performance and retention rates of young girls in schools across eastern Uganda.

Groundwater has been a sigh of relief for the learners who no longer have to trek long distances in quest for water. (Credit: Javier Silas Omagor)

In the village of Kumi, where groundwater wells were installed in several schools, official records indicate that the rate of girls progressing to secondary school has increased by 20 percent in the past five years.

Local leaders like Mbale city mayor Cassim Namugali believe this change is directly linked to the reduction in the time spent collecting water.

“Education is key to empowering women, and access to water is a step in the right direction,” he says.

Better hygiene

The benefits of groundwater extend beyond just providing drinking water. Improved sanitation facilities in schools have helped reduce waterborne diseases, which were once a leading cause of school absenteeism.

Schools that have tapped into groundwater sources in both Mbale and Kapchorwa are able to maintain better hygiene standards, with proper handwashing stations and functioning latrines.

At Mbale Secondary School, for instance, the installation of a water pump has not only improved the school’s water supply, but it has also helped reduce cases of cholera and typhoid.

"Before, there were frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, and many children would fall ill,” said headmaster Moses Buyela. "Now, with clean water and better sanitation, the health of the children has greatly improved, and attendance has risen."

Kwoti Primary School in Kapchorwa is also able to provide its learners and teachers with safe and clean water, thanks to its recently installed borehole.

“Water is so central to learning and it has been close to impossible to conduct studies without safe and clean water but all is eased now,” said Sharon Chelimo, a teacher at the school.

'Water has improved our lives'

The impact of groundwater is not just limited to schools. In many rural areas, local economies are benefiting from the increased availability of water.

In return, the development is hugely contributing to the economic growth and sustainability.

According to the women NBI studied in some of the counties and sub-counties within the Elgon Aquifer area, they face great challenges in their quest for water for use in households and are forced to walk long distances to secure the water.

Kapchorwa farmers are now able to irrigate their crops, while local businesses can operate more efficiently. This has a ripple effect on education, as families can earn more, invest in school fees, and improve the overall economic stability of their communities.

“With better crops and income, parents can afford to send their children to school,” says Vincent Gizamba, a farmer. “Water has made our lives better in more ways than one.”

He says many families are now able to grow food year-round, reducing hunger and malnutrition — common barriers to school attendance.

Putting aside the significant strides made in promoting education through groundwater, Gizamba points at issues such as unreliable pumps, inadequate maintenance, and a lack of technical expertise to manage water sources as some of the significant challenges that still exist.

Also of concern is that the effects of climate change are starting to impact groundwater levels, making water availability uncertain in the future.