Nkumba University concludes Rotary WASH plumbers' training to improve healthcare services

What the report says

Nkumba University has wrapped up a 10-day Rotary WASH Institute training programme aimed at improving water, sanitation and hygiene services in health facilities. According to Nile Post, nearly 100 plumbers and health practitioners from 50 health centres across Uganda took part in the residential course, which combined classroom and practical instruction on wastewater and drainage management, infection prevention and control, water safety, and healthcare water systems.

The university’s vice chancellor and project lead, Prof. Jude Lubega, said the training was intended to address a shortage of technical skills needed to keep WASH infrastructure working in health facilities. He encouraged participants to return to their workplaces and apply what they learned. The programme is only the first step in a certification process: trainees must complete five online modules and post-training assessments before graduating on October 24, and follow-up visits are planned to check how the skills are being used on site.

Mary Nagganda, president of the Rotary Club of Kajjansi, said the initiative came from Rotary’s concerns about persistent water and sanitation problems in rural health centres. Beneficiaries described the training as useful for improving water quality work and patient care. The Rotary WASH Institute at Nkumba University, established in 2025, works with Rotary partners and The Rotary Foundation to develop sustainable responses to WASH challenges across Africa.