Water, Sanitation Institute Commissioned At Nkumba University

The Rotary International President, Stephanie Urchick, has today commissioned the Rotary Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (RoWASH) Institute at Nkumba University.

Peace Talemwa, the Rotary Past District Governor and Project Vision Bearer, said that the introduction of the WASH Institute in the University will enable research on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene to be undertaken and hence contribute to a mass of knowledge in the related field.

“WASH projects in Africa and specifically in Uganda have largely focused on community involvement without taking information to classrooms or lecture rooms following a teaching syllabus. Yet, such taught and examinable information would easily be grasped by the learners and hence be able to create a ripple effect to the broader community after they have graduated,” said Talemwa.

He added that teaching courses focusing on WASH will contribute to the attainment of the different Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including ‘No Poverty’, ‘Zero Hunger’, ‘Good Health and well-being’, ‘Clean Water and sanitation’, and ‘safe, resilient and sustainable cities’.

In addition, Talemwa noted that the Institute was to contribute to the National Development Plan III, the Vision 2020 and the Africa Union Agenda 2063 in Uganda.

According to the 2021 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services, combined with poor hygiene practices, causes fatalities and illnesses to thousands of people and leads to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for many. The report indicates that 50 percent of the developing world’s population, equivalent to 2.5 billion people lack improved sanitation facilities.

On the other hand, the 2021 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) indicates that 300 million people in Africa lack access to safe drinking water. It is also reported that despite efforts by the Uganda government to tackle the challenge of unsafe and unclean water, only 64 percent of Ugandans have safe water access within 1 kilometre.

Talemwa emphasized that the Institute will look at capacity building, research development, advocacy and awareness, collaboration, monitoring and evaluation. He revealed that 60 percent of the Rotary projects in the country that are financed by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) are in WASH-related aspects to solve the challenges at hand.

Christine Kyeyune Kawooya, the Project Implementing Committee Chairperson, said that it has been implemented in partnership with the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) which provided 50 computers.

Prof. Jude Lubega, the Nkumba University Vice Chancellor said that the establishment of the Institute is a shared commitment to promoting good hygiene, clean water and sanitation which are key pillars for development.

He added that this institute will inspire innovation, research and sustainable solutions for Uganda.

Rotary International President, Stephanie Urchick, said that when Rotary supports programs like the RoWASH Institute at Nkumba University, they create lasting change for many generations across the globe and in local communities.

She expressed sadness about the millions of children and women across the world who walk long distances in search of clean water, which affects their development in other aspects of life.

As part of the project, Nkumba University provided Rotary with land for the institute, space for a water quality laboratory, lecture rooms and library, resource centre and studio for recording online tutorials, and others.

One Postgraduate Course Module at the institute will include an introduction to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Water Quality and Waste Water Treatment, Nutrition, Health and Sanitation, Gender and Wash Promotion, WASH and Climate Change Crisis, Hygiene and Environmental Health, and Remote Sensing in WASH.

The Short Course Modules include Environmental Impact Assessment and WASH, Remote Sensing, Water quality and wastewater treatment, Climate change and WASH, and Green environment and WASH.