Burugo Primary School Wins Inaugural National Dettol Hygiene Quest Festival

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reports that Burugo Primary School in Jinja District has won the first National Dettol Hygiene Quest Festival, a countrywide school competition that used Music, Dance and Drama to promote hygiene education among pupils. The event ended in Jinja after drawing entries from 159 schools across Uganda, with 25 schools reaching the final stage.

According to the report, pupils presented performances focused on sanitation, handwashing and disease prevention. Burugo Primary School received the top award and a token of appreciation for its hygiene-themed presentation. The finale was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, district local government representatives and non-governmental organisation actors, who highlighted participatory learning as a way to support health and education priorities.

Dr. Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, founder and CEO of Chil AI Lab and focal person for the Dettol Hygiene Quest in Uganda, said organisers viewed the arts-based approach as a way to help learners absorb hygiene practices more deeply. Watchdog Uganda also reported that Kaliisa confirmed the festival is expected to return next year.

The programme is backed by Reckitt, the company behind Dettol and other consumer brands, with technology support from partners including Chil AI Lab. The report says digital tools such as the Dettol Hygiene Quest AI Chatbot are being paired with school activities to encourage hygiene habits, digital learning and improved sanitation outcomes. More broadly, school hygiene initiatives can matter because poor sanitation and preventable illness may disrupt attendance and learning, especially among younger pupils.