Water Shortages Affect School Performance In Lwengo And Masaka

Despite the ongoing rainy season in Uganda, water shortages continue to plague parts of the Masaka sub-region, especially in Lwengo and nearby districts along the Ankole-Masaka dry cattle corridor.

These areas are facing extended dry spells, disrupting agricultural activities and limiting access to clean water for communities. Schools are particularly affected, with students’ academic performance and health deteriorating as a result of the crisis.

Nkooye Agnes, a farmer from Kyamaganda in Kisekka Subcounty, Lwengo District, shared her concerns about the delayed rainfall.

“We expected rains in September, but now it’s October, and there’s still not enough. We’re worried whether the rain will come in time to support our crops,” she said.

Many children are now missing school as they spend hours fetching water from distant wells. Teachers are struggling to maintain regular academic schedules as students sacrifice learning time to search for water.

The shortage of clean drinking water has become a critical barrier to education in the region, and urgent solutions are needed.

Namala Elizabeth, a teacher at Kyamaganda Primary School in Lwengo, noted how the crisis is affecting students’ academic progress. “Our students are falling behind because they spend so much time fetching water.

This is an issue in every school across Lwengo,” she said. She added that students often start their school day by searching for drinking water, losing valuable time for learning.

In response to the crisis, Water Harvest-UK, an international organisation, has launched a water harvesting project in Lwengo and Masaka districts.

The initiative aims to provide schools and communities with a reliable source of clean water. The project has already built 61 water tanks in 11 schools, with plans to construct 107 tanks in 23 schools across the Masaka sub-region.

The tanks are being built in collaboration with local groups, including the Masaka District LandCare Chapter (MADLAC), which focuses on environmental conservation and sustainable water use.

According to Mathias Wakulira, MADLAC’s coordinator, the water tanks will not only supply water to schools but also support irrigation efforts within the institutions.

“This area suffers from frequent dry spells. These tanks will help mitigate the water shortages. We’re also educating students on environmental conservation and tree planting to address climate change,” he said.

Water shortages have had an especially profound effect on girls, who face additional challenges.

Students at St. Jude Kayijja Primary School in Masaka have reported walking long distances to fetch water from contaminated ponds, which exposes them to health risks like waterborne diseases.

At St. Mary’s Kyamaganda Vocational Institute, female students mentioned that the lack of clean water affects their ability to bathe regularly, particularly during menstruation.

Some girls, especially those with existing health conditions, find the long walks to collect water exhausting and risky.

Engineer Dan Krimani, coordinator of the Water Harvest Project and Emmaus-UK, emphasised that the ultimate goal is to improve access to clean water in schools throughout the Masaka sub-region.

“We want to ensure that every child, especially in areas hit hardest by dry spells, can study in a healthy, supportive environment,” he said.