Karamoja sub region has received a donation of USD 10 million (38 billion Shillings) to boost Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities in the region.
The region posts the least pit latrine coverage of 30 percent, compared to the national average of 77 percent, according to records by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The region is also grappling with challenges of water, mostly affecting schools. On average, 60 percent of the children in the region live more than a 30 minute trip from the nearest water source and more than 30 percent have no access to safe water.
Now, The UN Children’s Agency-UNICEF, with support from Korea International Corporation Agency, KOICA have donated have stepped up interventions to support districts in Karamoja deliver the national Water, Sanitation and Hygiene standards in all schools. The five-year programme will directly benefit 56,000 children in 100 schools.
The national WASH in Schools standards are a set of 24 standards updated by the Ministry of Education and Sports in 2017, including, providing 1.5 litres of safe drinking water every day to all learners and staff, Separating latrines for all girls and boys, and children with disabilities and availing one hand washing facility for every 40 learners, with water and soap in all school latrines.
The others are ensuring that schools have annual budgets to operate and maintain all school WASH facilities, and providing a waste management system where solid waste is collected every day and disposed of safely.
