Perfect Nursery and Primary School in Kulambiro, Kampala, has received a modern toilet and handwashing facility following an intervention by the Rotary Club of Kulambiro aimed at improving sanitation and the general learning environment at the school.
The facility was commissioned Thursday by the Rotary District 9213 Governor Gerald Obai during a ceremony attended by Rotarians from different clubs, guests from Germany, parents, school administrators, local leaders and pupils.
The newly completed facility provides the school with improved sanitation infrastructure and dedicated handwashing points, giving pupils a more suitable environment in which to observe hygiene practices.
The commissioning is part of a four-year partnership between the Rotary Club of Kulambiro and the school, through which the club has supported a number of education and infrastructure needs.
Rotary Club of Kulambiro President Eddie Rash said the club’s interventions have included donating more than 3,000 books to the school, supporting improvements to the nursery section and identifying other infrastructure needs that require attention.
He said the club is now looking at establishing a library and supporting the completion of an unfinished six-classroom block.
“We want to see this school at an international standard,” Rash said.
The Rotary president said the club initially considered supporting other projects at the school but later prioritized sanitation after members assessed the institution and identified the need for a better water and hygiene system.
The school had previously depended on the national water supply without an adequate backup arrangement, meaning interruptions affected the availability of water for pupils and staff.
The head teacher Mr Drake Kizito said the situation had made handwashing difficult, with the school previously relying on a few jerrycans.
He said the new facility would help the school improve hygiene and reduce some of the challenges that had affected pupils.
“This project is not just about taps and tanks. It is about life, health and dignity for our children,” the head teacher said.
He said management would take responsibility for maintaining the facility, ensuring that water and soap are available and teaching pupils to use the toilets and handwashing facilities responsibly.
The head teacher also challenged pupils to treat the facility as their own, reminding them to wash their hands before eating, after using the latrine and after playing.
Governor Obai said the project demonstrated Rotary’s approach of identifying community needs and responding with practical interventions.
He said the facility would serve the current pupils as well as future generations who will attend the school.
Obai also credited the Rotarians who initiated contact with the school four years ago, saying their initial decision to engage the institution had developed into a broader partnership.
He said every Rotary leadership team involved in the partnership had contributed to building on the work of its predecessors.
The Governor encouraged the school and the wider community to protect the facility so that it can continue serving pupils for many years.
The ceremony also featured performances by pupils, who entertained the visiting Rotarians and other guests.
The president said the club would continue working with the school in areas that can improve education and the welfare of pupils.
Among the planned interventions are the proposed library, continued support to the nursery section and assistance towards completing the unfinished classroom block.
