Vuluga UMEA Primary School in Vuluga village, Buikwe Town Council, has become the latest beneficiary of an innovative sanitation initiative, thanks to a partnership between local and international humanitarian organizations.
The school recently received a four-stance Ecosan (ecological sanitation) toilet, complete with washrooms, funded by Saluganda Elkatear, a Spanish humanitarian organization. The eco-friendly facility is designed not only to improve hygiene but also to generate organic fertilizer.
The project was officially commissioned during a colorful ceremony attended by district leaders, community members, and partner organizations.
Local coordination was handled by the Cape of Good Hope Orphan Care and Family Support Project (COGHOC/FSP), a Mukono-based nonprofit working to advance education, health, and social empowerment for vulnerable children and families.
Speaking at the launch, Buikwe Senior Education Officer Rashida Nantongo described the toilet as the first of its kind in the area, praising its dual function as a sanitation and agricultural innovation.
“The Ecosan toilet doesn’t just promote hygiene—it turns human waste into usable fertilizer through a system that incorporates wood ash,” Nantongo explained. “This is an opportunity for both the school and the community to benefit agriculturally. I encourage other leaders to visit this model and consider lobbying for similar projects.”
The system works by drying and sanitizing waste over time using wood ash, ultimately producing compost that is safe for use in gardens—an especially valuable feature in this farming community.
Jimmy Katende, Director of COGHOC/FSP, emphasized the project’s broader mission of promoting girls’ education and improving hygiene standards for all learners.
“We aim to empower girls through education and raise hygiene standards for every child. We started with children with disabilities in Najja and Nyenga sub-counties and are now expanding to more schools like Vuluga UMEA,” said Katende.
“Although our funding is limited due to commitments in war-affected regions, we hope this initiative will serve as a model others can replicate.”
Katende also revealed that the organization plans to introduce a facilitator at the school to provide HIV/AIDS awareness education, further strengthening the project’s health education component.
The school’s head teacher, Aminah Nakayiza, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the donation and for COGHOC/FSP’s continued support, even after her recent transfer from Kisimba to Vuluga UMEA.
“This support gives me strength and motivation to serve. I’m deeply grateful that they followed me here and extended their help to my new school,” Nakayiza said.
Buikwe Town Council Speaker Dan Serunjogi praised Nakayiza for her effective lobbying, crediting her leadership for bringing the project to the school.
“This is a powerful example of innovation meeting community needs. In a farming village like ours, this kind of facility is a real asset,” he said.
Twaha Kikambi, a councillor at Buikwe Town Council, welcomed the collaboration with the Spanish donors and voiced hope that it would grow into a lasting partnership.
“Friendship that adds value to our lives is the kind we must cherish,” he said. “We welcome this collaboration and pray it extends to other areas of development.”
The Ecosan toilet project is expected to inspire more environmentally friendly and cost-effective sanitation solutions in rural Ugandan schools—uniting education, health, agriculture, and sustainability in a single initiative.
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