Kabuli Primary School (Bukwaya, Nakigo) — Borehole Well
Project Snapshot
- Location: Bukwaya village, Nakigo Sub-county, Iganga District, Uganda
- School: Kabuli Primary School
- Learners Served: 447 (237 girls, 210 boys) + teachers/staff
- Intervention: Drilled borehole well with durable hand pump, concrete apron, and drainage
- Status: Completed
Kabuli Before the well
The nearest source was a shared community borehole used by many households. Queues were long, and pupils were not allowed to move ahead, so children missed class time waiting for water.
What We Built
Drop in the Bucket drilled a deep borehole on school grounds and installed a community-standard hand pump with a reinforced concrete apron and drainage. The site was selected for safe access during busy school hours and straightforward upkeep.
Kabuli Primary School Now
Clean water is now available on campus for drinking, handwashing, cooking, and routine cleaning. The on-compound source reduces time away from lessons and supports daily hygiene.
Use & Upkeep
The school administration oversees daily use and basic maintenance. For repairs beyond routine care, the school coordinates with local hand pump technicians and district water authorities.
Notes
- Type: Borehole well with hand pump (school compound)
- Primary users: Students and staff during school hours
- Hygiene: Handwashing encouraged at key times (before meals, after latrine use)
- Related: See water facts for why school water access matters.
Sarah Naigaga is the headteacher at the Kabuli Primary school, located just outside the town of Iganga in Uganda. Sarah has been in charge of several schools in the district, but Kabuli was the first school in a long time without safe water. “I was always relieved when I was assigned to a school that had a borehole (water well). Unfortunately when she got to Kabuli she found that not only did the school not have a well, the water source it did had was the cause of a lot of problems.
While there was a water source within walking distance, it was far from ideal. ” When Sarah was asked to describe the old water source she used the word “Treacherous”. “The sides were steep and slippery and if you fell in it would not be easy to get out”. This meant that teachers needed to accompany the younger students when they went for water. One time, a student slipped and almost fell into the waterhole Fortunately, a teacher was there to catch her. “I can only imagine how horrified the parents would have been had anything happened to their daughter while she was at school,” says Sarah, shaking her head.
