Bulubandi Primary School – How one of the largest Schools in Eastern Uganda Got Clean Water
Bulubandi Primary School (Iganga District)
Project Snapshot
Location: Bulubandi Primary School, Iganga District, Uganda
Users Served: 2,010 pupils at Bulubandi Primary School (970 boys and 1,040 girls), plus school staff
Intervention: Drilled borehole well with hand pump, concrete apron, and upgraded stainless-steel riser pipes
Depth Drilled: 50m
Yield:
Date Drilled: 8/14/2025
Status: Completed
Bulubandi Primary School Before the well
Bulubandi Primary School is one of the largest government-funded primary schools in eastern Uganda, serving more than 2,000 students in grades Primary 1 through Primary 7. Before the borehole was drilled, the school had partial access to two water sources, but neither one was reliable enough for a school of this size.
One option was a community water borehole that was always crowded. Women from the village lined up early, holding their place by arranging their containers. Because they needed water for cooking, washing clothes, cleaning, and bathing children, they were understandably reluctant to let primary school students cut the line for a quick drink. Tensions would brew, and students often went without water during the day.
The second option was piped municipal water, but it was not sustainable. The supply worked only intermittently and could stop for weeks at a time. It was also expensive and unaffordable for a school with more than 2,000 pupils.
What We Built at Bulubandi Primary School
Drop in the Bucket drilled a borehole well on the school grounds and installed a standard hand pump with a reinforced concrete apron and upgraded stainless-steel riser pipes. The goal was simple: provide a reliable, on-site source of clean water so students and staff could drink safely, maintain hygiene, and stay healthy throughout the school day.
Bulubandi Primary School now
Clean water is now available on campus for drinking, handwashing, and daily hygiene. With safe water on-site, students don’t have to leave school to search for water, and staff can maintain a cleaner, healthier learning environment for one of the largest primary school populations in Iganga District.
Use & Upkeep
School leadership and the local community oversee daily use and cleanliness of the borehole. Basic maintenance and first-line repairs are managed locally, with additional support coordinated through sub-county and district authorities as needed.
Notes
Type: Borehole well with hand pump (school)
Primary users: 2,010 pupils at Bulubandi Primary School, Iganga District, Uganda
Hygiene: Keep the apron clear and drained; reinforce handwashing and hygiene routines for students
Related: See water facts for why replacing unsafe or unreliable water sources with boreholes matters.
Story: How Clean Water Reached One of the Largest Schools in Eastern Uganda
Bulubandi Primary School in the Iganga District is one of the largest schools in eastern Uganda. With over 2,000 students, spanning grades 1 through 7.
Before Drop in the Bucket drilled a water well at Bulubandi Primary School, the large government-funded school had partial access to two water sources, but both were unreliable.
One was a community water borehole that was always crowded. Women from the village lined up early, holding their place in line by lining up their containers. Because they needed water for cooking, washing clothes, cleaning, and bathing children, they were reluctant to let the primary school students cut the line for a quick drink, so tensions would brew.
The second option was piped municipal water, but it wasn’t sustainable. The supply worked only intermittently and could stop for weeks at a time. Also the was expensive and unaffordable for a school with over 2000 pupils.
The school had another, more unusual problem caused by the lack of clean water. Click here to read the story of how clean water allowed children to play sports and have fun at school again..