Things were finally starting to look up for Covenant Nursery and Primary School, a small village school in northern Uganda. For the first time, the school had electricity — a true achievement for a rural community.
Electricity meant the classrooms had light, teachers could charge their phones, and staff no longer had to travel into town just to print exams. The improvement attracted better teachers, and soon more parents enrolled their children. Within months, enrollment had climbed to more than 500 students.
Covenant Nursery and Primary School Needed Clean Water
It didn’t take long to confirm the problem. The surge in enrollment had strained the nearby community water point, and the school had resorted to collecting water from a nearby spring.
Spring water pours naturally from the ground, but this one was unprotected—with no pipes, no cement lining, and no fencing. During the rainy season, runoff from nearby homes and fields carried animal waste and litter straight into the catchment. The open water was teeming with visible tadpoles, mud, and invisible parasites—a dangerous mix for young children.
A Water Well That Transformed Covenant Nursery and Primary School
Drop in the Bucket had drilled a well for the local health clinic two years earlier, so the school requested our team to assess the situation. They easily met all the criteria, and before the end of summer, Covenant Nursery had its own clean water point.
We also trained school staff and community members to make basic repairs, so they don’t have to wait for outside help when something breaks. Keeping the solution in local hands ensures the system is sustainable for the long term.
Clean Water Means a Healthier, Stronger School
Today, the school is thriving.
At the handing-over ceremony, Mr. Olanya shared, “This clean water has changed everything. Now we will watch our children grow up strong, healthy, and well-educated citizens.”
Why Safe Water Matters
This story is about more than just a well. It’s about how one missing piece—clean water—can threaten everything even if everything else is going well. Electricity helped raise enrollment. But water keeps students healthy enough to stay in class and learn. Without it, all of that that progress would have been lost.
Covenant Nursery and Primary School shows just how high the stakes are. When we protect a child’s access to safe water, we’re also protecting their education—and their future.
If you’re new to our work, explore our water facts to see how clean water supports health and education across Uganda.
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